US declares drought disaster for areas in Puerto Rico as dry conditions persist

Key Points:

• The U.S. government declared a drought disaster for 26 municipalities in Puerto Rico due to severe and extreme drought conditions affecting over 63% of the island, with July being the driest month on record for San Juan in over 120 years.
• The disaster declaration enables farmers and agricultural producers in the affected areas to access emergency loans, addressing significant crop and livestock losses caused by prolonged dry conditions and water rationing.
• Farmers report severe damage including shriveled crops, premature fruit drop, and reduced irrigation water, with many halting production since May and some forced to seek alternative employment to survive.
• Puerto Rico has implemented water rationing affecting over 180,000 customers, with the National Guard distributing water to prioritize hospitals and vulnerable populations amid ongoing infrastructure challenges.
• The drought is linked to the El Niño weather pattern and compounded by long-standing issues with Puerto Rico’s aging water infrastructure, which has led to legal action by San Juan’s mayor against the Water and Sewer Authority.