Venezuela facing severe drought

 Venezuela is suffering the seventh worst drought in the last 60 years, which has forced the government and people to take extreme clean water saving measures, Environment Minister Miguel Leonardo Rodriguez said on Sunday.
The minister urged the people to join the campaign for the rational use of clean water and to "carry out the water supply plans until the rain season arrives and the dams will be filled again."
Rodriguez told a press conference that the dams' water levels are low due to a lack of rain.
He added that the November-April dry season has been prolonged, especially affecting the northwestern region, where the the country's main dams are located.
Rodriguez said the most affected dams are Manuelote, Tres Rrios and Tule in Zulia state, on the border with Colombia. Their water levels have lowered more than 10 meters.
The minister added that the situation might worsen if Venezuela is affected by El Nino, the prolonged warming in the Pacific Ocean sea surface temperatures.
"El Nino has not affected yet, but it is possible that it might appear during the year's second half. This will mean more droughts and we should be prepared if that happens," said Rodriguez.
If the weather conditions do not improve, restrictive measures for the use of water would emerge based on consulting the people and listening to their opinions, the minister said.
The government needs the support of the people and the media to extend and guarantee clean water service, he stressed.

source: Xinhua