Wildfire and Drought in Guam, February 1 to 28, 1998

Drought conditions continue across the Western Pacific. The dry conditions have given rise to numerous fires across the island of Guam. In Pohnpei, water must be shipped to the outer islands. Many wells on Pohnpei itself are dangerously low with increasing levels of salinity in them. Many rivers have also have dried up and this has lead to poor water quality across Pohnpei. This has resulted in an increase in illness due to an increase in bacteria and contaminants in the remaining water supplies. There also has been a few cases of Typhoid across Pohnpei. Plant and agricultural activities are being adversely affected due to a lack of adequate rainfall. There is also an increase in uncontrolled fires across Pohnpei. The Federated States of Micronesia has declared a State of Emergency for these drought related effects. In the Republic of Belau water rationing was begun with only water available from 2 to 10 pm.