Nicaraguan cities declare red alert because of drought

[Judi Lynn]

Nicaraguan cities declare red alert because of drought
14:34, February 07, 2010

Two cities in central Nicaragua have declared red alerts because of a lack of water and food caused by a severe drought that has ravged the country since the end of 2009.

Bayardo Arauz, mayor of Teustepe in Boaco province, said the council of his municipality decreed a red alert for fear of an expanded famine caused by a food and water shortage in central Nicaragua.

"There were not harvests for the lack of rains and our municipality has few water resources and it is getting drier," Arauz said Friday.

Arauz said other cities in Boaco province, including Santa Luica and San Jose de los Remates, also have been affected by the drought but to a lower degree.

Also on Friday, the municipal council of San Lorenzo decreed a red alert due to the risk of a "state of famine" caused by a lack of food and water in the city.

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