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Puerto Rico declares state of emergency as drought causes thousands to go without water every other day

ORLANDO, Fla. — Puerto Rico’s governor declared a state of emergency last week as a drought has crept across the territory amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Nearly 140,000 residents have been without water for 24 hours every other day due to strict rationing measures, according to officials.

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Puerto Rico’s utilities company has urged residents not to stockpile water because it would worsen the situation.

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This comes as the island has experienced several crises, including Hurricane Maria in 2017 and several earthquakes this year.

Officials did not say how long the rationing measures will last.

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Katlyn Brieskorn, WFTV.com

Katlyn Brieskorn is a Digital Assignment Editor at WFTV. She joined Channel 9 in July 2019.