Water shipped to island

Avarua: An emergency shipment of water is being sent to the northern Cook Island of Tongareva, where the drought situation is described as desperate.

Cook Islands prime minister Mark Brown yesterday said the droughtstricken Tongareva — also known as Penrhyn — had reached dire straits.

‘‘There has not been any significant rain on Tongareva for the last six months, and no rain in sight for several months ahead,’’ Brown said in a statement.

There was estimated to be about 70,000 litres of water left for the island’s 250 residents, which the government estimated would last about two weeks.

The barge Taunga Nui would today be deployed carrying 200,000 litres of water and a desalination plant. — RNZ