IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

BREAKING: 7 injured in shooting at Virginia Commonwealth University after high school graduation

Puerto Rico Drought: More Municipalities Declared Disaster Areas

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack declared 6 more municipalities as natural disaster areas due to worsening drought.
Image: A man and a boy try to fish while standing on the dry shores of the almost empty La Plata reservoir in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico
A man and a boy try to fish while standing on the dry shores of the almost empty La Plata reservoir in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico, June 20, 2015. A drought due to subnormal rainfall in several areas has forced the local government to interrupt water supply on several days of the week in most of the metropolitan area of San Juan, affecting over 400,000 homes and businesses, according to local media. Picture taken June 20, 2015. REUTERS/Alvin Baez-Hernandez ALVIN BAEZ / Reuters

Puerto Rico's extreme drought situation continues to worsen.

On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack declared an additional six municipalities in Puerto Rico as natural disaster areas due to worsening drought conditions. The municipalities affected include Corozal, Morovis, Naranjito, Orocovis, Toa Alta, and Vega Alta.

The announcement comes in the wake of several other drought disaster declarations by Secretary Vilsack, bringing the total to 36 affected municipalities on the island. Drought declarations of this nature are issued based on data indicating eight or more consecutive weeks of prolonged drought have occurred. The data is collected and analyzed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) using the official U.S. Drought Monitor.

Image:
This June 11, 2015 aerial photo shows the dry banks of La Plata River in Comerio, in central Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is among the Caribbean islands worst-hit by the water shortage, with more than 1.5 million people alone affected by the drought so far, according to the U.S. National Drought Mitigation Center. (AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo)Ricardo Arduengo / AP

On Thursday, Puerto Rico's Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi stated that the fourth disaster declaration issued by Vilsack "reflects the severity of the drought we are facing on the island as well as its widening impact."

He continued: "The drought is harming our farmers and ranchers. And that is why my office continues its work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure all appropriate federal assistance is made available to them.”

The drought in Puerto Rico is affecting more than 2.5 million people and has led to extreme water restrictions as well as complete water cutoffs across the territory.

Follow NBC News Latino on Facebook and Twitter