Brava faces prolonged drinking water disruption and residents demand urgent intervention
The island of Brava has been facing a drinking water shortage for more than four weeks, leaving stores without supplies and residents worried. The situation has led to queues, price rises and urgent appeals to the authorities. The ship Atlantic Shipping, which transports water and essential goods, suffered a breakdown and remains in Praia with no return date.
The population of the island of Brava has once again expressed strong concern at the critical situation caused by the constant disruptions in the supply of drinking water, a product that has been in short supply in stores for more than four weeks and which directly affects domestic consumption and the routine of families.
According to reports from several residents, the supply of bottled water has been interrupted "for almost a month", leaving stores without the capacity to replenish it. The lack of the essential product has led to queues, occasional price rises and a veritable race for what little is still available at some points of sale.
Dety Martins, a resident of Nova Sintra, says that the island is going through a "very critical" phase. In addition to the scarcity of basic foodstuffs, the rupture of drinking water has further increased tension among Bravenses.
"Drinking water is essential to life and health. Here in Brava, practically everyone uses bottled water, not tap water. When there's a rupture, we're left with no solutions and depend on alternatives that don't always exist," he lamented.
Luis Pires, a resident of Nossa Senhora do Monte, has a similar opinion, describing the situation as "regrettable".
"I've seen tourists looking for water to drink and they've only found small bottles. Practically the whole island is without drinking water," he said, calling on local and national authorities to intervene urgently.
The scenario has exacerbated the population's fears that, if the situation persists, the island could face an even more delicate situation in the coming weeks.
However, information gathered by Inforpress indicates that a shipment of basic necessities - including water to supply some of the island's stores - is still on board the ship Atlantic Shipping. The ship was due to arrive in Brava at the end of October, but suffered a breakdown and returned to Praia, with no definite date for it to resume its journey.
Meanwhile, uncertainty is growing and the population is still waiting for a quick solution to prevent the supply crisis from turning into a bigger emergency.
Report by Expresso Das Ilhas.
