Mexico Nearing Complete Water Loss Amid Historic Drought

After nearly two months of drought, Mexico is running out of water.

Nearly two-thirds of Mexico’s cities don't have enough water. That's according to the National Water Commission.  

In mid-July, the agency reported that 48% of Mexico was in a drought. That's up from 28% a year ago. Mexico and parts of the US are dealing with the driest 40 years in 1,200 years.   

The crisis has hit one of Mexico’s biggest economic hubs, the city of Monterrey. Around 5 million people live there. 

The government is giving out water to 400 neighborhoods in Monterrey. It's passing out 9 million liters of water a day. Truck drivers are making up to 10 trips daily. They supply 200 families with water each trip. For some, this may be the only water their family gets for a week.       

People are getting angry. Some have taken to blocking highways. A few are kidnapping city workers to demand more water.  

The governor of one Mexican state urged the world to work together to fight climate change.     

The Mexican government has spent $82 million to help stop the water crisis. One Mexican state governor, though, said the impact of climate change is more than one government can handle. 

“The climate crisis has caught up to us,” he wrote on Twitter. “Today we have to take care of the environment, it is life or death.”

Photo from Reuters.