Delcy Rodriguez, who is the interim president of Venezuela recently called on citizens to save power and water. The South American country has also faced power outages in the past.
Delcy Rodriguez’s Latest Statement
The interim president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez recently gave a public address today and addressed the devastating impact of the Super El Nino. “This is a structural emergency driven by a historic Super El Niño that has systematically depleted our reservoirs”
She then urged citizens to be judicious with their use of water and electricity. “Every citizen must treat electricity and water not as an infinite resource, but as a critical national asset that requires absolute preservation”, she said. “We are appealing to the deep civic conscience of our people, but we are also mandating immediate operational limits. Our public administration sectors must lead by example by strictly curtailing unnecessary operational hours.” she then added. Rodriguez also warned of the side effects of the ongoing El Nino onset last week.
Is El Nino to Blame?
Yes, El Nino is the major reason for the water & power cuts in Venezuela. According to Rodriguez,El Nino has already hit the South American country and could bring drought before year-end. The periodic phenomenon, which warms the Pacific Ocean’s surface altering global weather patterns, made power and water conservation necessary, she said.
However, the country has faced chronic electricity problems for years, with experts and independent groups pointing to aging infrastructure, inadequate maintenance and insufficient generation capacity. And the twin earthquakes in June this year, also harmed energy infrastructure, which worsened the problem. Some have also suggested that demand is higher than supply for energy in Venezuela.
Venezuela Power & Water Cuts: How Long Will Outages Last?
An exact timeline for how long the power cuts & water cuts will be has not been shared. Some regions outside the capital, such as Zulia and Carabobo, are experiencing severe daily power cuts lasting up to 10 hours or longer . While in others, the cuts will most likely be intermittent.
Venezuela Power & Water Cuts: Resident Advisory
To prepare for the power & water cuts, the people of Venezuela should:
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Secure water supplies by storing in sealed containers and boiling, while keeping refrigerators closed and stocking non-perishables helps ensure food safety.
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Adapt daily routines by checking for adjusted public sector hours and saving critical data offline.
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Unplugging devices when not in use.
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Avoiding unnecessary use of water.
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Rely on LED lights, rather than electronic ones.
