Martinique positioned in “drought crisis” for the primary time in its historical past | EUROtoday

Published on : 05/17/2024 – 8:39 p.m.

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Martinique is experiencing “an exceptional water situation”, indicated the island's prefecture on Friday May 17, in a press launch, the state of affairs approaching “the record situation of 1973, the driest reference year that has been recorded” .

“In April, the precipitation deficit was up to 70% lower than the average of the last 30 years” and “the developments don’t enable us to envisage enchancment within the brief time period, within the absence of great contribution of water”, adds the press release, according to which the return of “vital” rains is anticipated on the finish of May-beginning of June.

“Emergency measures”

A prefectural decree has been issued, specifying the contours of this “drought crisis”. The prefecture declares that it has taken the lead with regulatory measures, with the decree of April 5 which already positioned Martinique in a bolstered drought alert zone, prohibiting sure makes use of of water.

“The situation, however, requires additional measures, of limited duration to the particularly intense period of drought that we are experiencing,” explains the press launch.

“Flows reserved for environments on all watercourses” are thus eliminated, which means that ingesting water manufacturing and distribution companies can now improve withdrawals from rivers.

The decree additionally prohibits automobile and boat washing, together with by professionals, and “imposes a 25% reduction in water consumption by all economic players”.

Since the start of April, Martinicans, notably these residing within the middle and south of the island, have needed to take care of rotating water cuts as a result of drop in river circulation. Around twenty colleges needed to shut, as a result of they may not make sure the sanitary situations for welcoming college students.

Heat wave

Added to the dearth of rain are warmth information with temperatures “currently higher than 2°C from the known averages over the first five months of the year”, in accordance with the prefecture. In May, they had been 4°C greater than seasonal norms with a warmth wave between May 9 and 11 throughout which it was over 34.9°C for two consecutive days.

On Tuesday, the prefect of Martinique Jean-Christophe Bouvier acknowledged on native radio RCI that “there is no more water in Martinique”, specifying that 15 of the 20 floor water catchment factors within the territory had been in severe deficit.

More than 90% of Martinique's water sources come from rivers, in accordance with the Martinique water workplace.

With AFP