(1188) STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED DUE TO EXTREME DROUGHT (TBN-March 24, 2016)

PALAU President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. on Tuesday declared a state of emergency after severe drought continues to affect the island nation.

"The declining water levels caused by this drought seriously threaten the availability and quality of potable water.

Executive Order No. 389 issued by the president which declares a state of emergency due to extreme drought."

Water shortage in Palau worsens as the Palau Public Utility Corporation (PPUC) shortened the water supply starting March 22 to six hours in Koror and Airai States.

The water levels of the Palau reservoir are going down on a critical level due to lack of rain. PPUC said that during a short period of rain on March 16, 2016 water levels gained about 3 feet but then dropped again back to 1.5 feet. Average consumption is about 125,000 gallons per hour or 625,000 gallons every 5 hours.

Remengesau in his executive order said the drought is also affecting other states of Palau and that the Ministry of Health fears that the water shortage continues to cause health implications to the public through food and water-borne illnesses.  

Sources: Tia Belau Newspaper
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