Preparations to ease the strain of an intense drought in Solomon Islands are underway.
A recent meeting for national delegates from the Ministry of Health, the Meteorological division and the Water Authority was called to address the possibility of El Nino weather affecting the region.
The current dry spell is expected to continue until February, with less than usual rainfall predicted.
The National disaster Management office director, Loti Yates, says delegates are now preparing public awareness information to warn about the lack of water and possibilities of fire hazards.
"Because of the announcement by the weather bureau that Solomon Islands would be expecting extended periods of no rains which means things would be drying up, lack of water (and) so basically the National Disaster Management Office called this meeting to get responsible agencies to start preparing."
Loti Yates says a continuing drought could see water restrictions enforced across the region.