Worst drought in decades hits Chile capital and outskirts
Officials in Chile say the capital city and its outskirts are suffering from the worst drought in many years.
The government has declared an agricultural emergency in many areas to try to fast-track a series of relief measures for farmers, including provision of drinking water and medicine for animals.
Santiago Metropolitan region, Coquimbo, Valparaiso and O'Higgins are among the worst-hit areas.
Agriculture Minister Antonio Walker said this week that 2019 is one of the driest years Chile has faced in six decades.
Officials are increasingly concerned by the effects of climate change after a long-drought. The world's leading copper-producing country uses large quantities of water for the industry, which is the backbone of the economy.
Chile will host a global conference on climate change in December.
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A boat sits parked the floor of the the Aculeo Lagoon lake bed, in Paine, Chile, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Officials in Chile say that the capital city and its outskirts are suffering from the worst drought in decades. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix) -
A resident rides his horse on the floor of the the Aculeo Lagoon lake bed, in Paine, Chile, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Officials in Chile say that the capital city and its outskirts are suffering from the worst drought in decades. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix) -
A cow grazes on the floor of the Aculeo Lagoon lake bed, as seen from a dock once surrounded by water, in Paine, Chile, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Despite having one of the largest fresh water reserves in the world, Chilean authorities declared an agricultural emergency this week as rural areas in the province of Santiago suffer the effects of the worst drought that has hit the area in decades. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix) -
A vaquero stands watch as his cows graze on the floor of the the Aculeo Lagoon lake bed, in Paine, Chile, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Despite having one of the largest fresh water reserves in the world, Chilean authorities declared an agricultural emergency this week as rural areas in the province of Santiago suffer the effects of the worst drought that has hit the area in decades. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix) -
A vaquero lassos a cow near an abandoned pier at the Acuelo Lagoon in Paine, Chile, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Despite having one of the largest fresh water reserves in the world Chilean authorities declared an agricultural emergency this week as rural areas in the province of Santiago suffer the effects of the worst drought that has hit the area in decades. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix) -
A water park sits abandoned due to drought conditions at an Aculeo Lagoon resort, in Paine, Chile, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Despite having one of the largest fresh water reserves in the world Chilean authorities declared an agricultural emergency this week as rural areas in the province of Santiago suffer the effects of the worst drought that has hit the area in decades. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix) -
A for sale leans against brush dried by drought backdropped by the Aculeo Lagoon lake bed, in Paine, Chile, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Despite having one of the largest fresh water reserves in the world, Chilean authorities declared an agricultural emergency this week as rural areas in the province of Santiago suffer the effects of the worst drought that has hit the area in decades. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix) -
Jorge Romero dismantles a relative home that once served as a resort, preparing the land for sale, near the now dried up Aculeo Lagoon, in Paine, Chile, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Despite having one of the largest fresh water reserves in the world Chilean authorities declared an agricultural emergency this week as rural areas in the province of Santiago suffer the effects of the worst drought that has hit the area in decades. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix) -
Jorge Romero carries wreckage from a plane that he found while walking on the lake bed of the Acuelo Lagoon, in Paine, Chile, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Despite having one of the largest fresh water reserves in the world Chilean authorities declared an agricultural emergency this week as rural areas in the province of Santiago suffer the effects of the worst drought that has hit the area in decades. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)
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Worst drought in decades hits Chile capital and outskirts (2019, August 24)
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