Chile is grappling with a severe water crisis after 15 years of relentless drought, leaving reservoirs dry and threatening access to drinking water across the Andean nation.
The Cogoti reservoir in the Coquimbo region, once a vital water source with a capacity of 150 million cubic meters, has completely depleted as the Southern Hemisphere summer concludes.
This historic drought has disrupted nearly every facet of life in the copper-rich country, from diminishing mining output to shrinking green spaces in the capital city.
According to the World Resources Institute, Chile is among the most water-stressed countries globally and could exhaust its water supply by 2040.
While central and southern regions experienced some rainfall this past winter, aiding in the replenishment of certain reservoirs, the northern areas remained arid, continuing the decline of water sources throughout the region.
Reference(s):
South American countries suffer huge impacts from climate change
cgtn.com
