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Not how we typically think of gorgeous Palau!
Drought-stricken Palau could dry up completely this month, officials warned on Monday (Apr 4) as the Pacific island
appealed for urgent aid from Japan and Taiwan, including shipments of water. "We're still in the state of emergency, there's a sense of urgency to address the crisis," a government spokesman told AFP as the National Emergency Committee (NEC) met to discuss strategy.
An NEC report prepared for President Tommy Remengesau offered a bleak outlook for the already-parched country. "Based on the current water level and usage rates, and assuming conditions persist unabated,
a total water outage is likely to occur in the next two to three weeks," it said.
Access to tap water is already rationed to three hours a day or less in the capital Koror and
schools are only open half days because they cannot give students enough to drink.
"The NEC has been in contact with the
governments of Japan and Taiwan regarding support of materials and equipment, as well as direct shipments of water as necessary," it said. The Japanese embassy in Palau confirmed it had received a request for assistance and discussions were ongoing about what form it would take. "The nature of what type of assistance and in what volume is expected to be finalised as soon as possible," it said in a statement.
Comment: Mexico's Popocatepetl volcano also lit up the night sky with a spectacular eruption on the same day.