Madrid, 2 February 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Due to water shortages in Spain, a state of emergency has been declared starting on Friday in Barcelona and 201 other municipalities in the Catalonia region in north-east Spain, the regional government announced on Thursday.

There will be new restrictions on consumption affecting some 6 million people in the provinces of Barcelona and Girona out of a total population of around 8 million in Catalonia.

Three dozen municipalities in the province of Tarragona have already been under a state of emergency for several months.

Other areas have been under a so-called pre-emergency state. Catalonia is suffering from the worst drought since records began a around a century ago, the regional president Pere Aragonès said.

Water consumption for the popular vacation destination is now limited to a maximum of 200 litres per person per day.

If the situation deteriorates even more, the limit can be reduced in a second phase to 180 litres and to 160 litres in a third phase.

The regional capital of Barcelona in comparison currently averages 173 litres, while larger municipalities average over 200 litres in some cases. During the pre-emergency phase, a limit of 230 litres per capita per day applied.

Until further notice, it is not permitted to wash cars, pavements or roads, while filling up swimming pools is also prohibited.

Public and private gardens and parks may only be watered under certain circumstances and only with recycled water.

Farmers will be hit hard and have to reduce their consumption by 80%. Livestock farming has to cut consumption by 50% and the industry by 25%. Penalties of up to €150,000 ($162,390) are imposed for violations.

MIA file photo