Europe faces its worst drought in 500 years

Europe is facing a historic drought.

While France has been confronted with large-scale climatic episodes this summer, the Global Drought Observatory established, in a report published on Tuesday August 23, that the European territory had been plunged into its worst drought since the last 500 years.

Final data at the end of the season will confirm this preliminary assessment.

Read alsoNew support measures for farmers affected by drought

At the date of publication of this report, 47% of the European continent is still in a state of drought warning;

17% in a state of alert -

-;

and in total, 64% of Europe is subject to a warning or an alert, which contributes to considerably increasing the areas at risk of fires throughout the territory of the European Union.

Crop yield has reduced drastically

Unusually hot and dry weather conditions have significantly reduced yield prospects for EU summer crops, according to the report.

Current forecasts for maize, soybeans and sunflowers at EU level are respectively 16%, 15% and 12% lower than the 5-year average, note experts from the European Commission's Joint Research Center .

On the other hand, the hot and dry conditions benefited the harvest of winter crops, which saw a slight improvement in yield forecasts.

EU Science Hub In green, impact on winter and spring crops;

in orange, impact on summer crops.

Energy sector affected by drought

This summer, almost all the rivers of the continent have dried up, causing the hydroelectric power generated in Europe to drop by 20% in recent months, the report also warns.

Read alsoDrought along Europe's rivers reveals centuries-old "hunger stones"

In Portugal, the hydroelectric energy stored in water reservoirs is less than half the average of the previous five years.

In Italy, the Po Basin Authority has confirmed the current classification at the highest level of drought severity.

The hydropower potential stored in the northern water reserves remains less than half of the country's power generation capacity.

A view shows parts of the dry Po river which is suffering from the worst drought in 70 years, near Borgo Virgilio, Italy, August 7, 2022. FLAVIO LO SCALZO / REUTERS

In France, more than 100 municipalities had water supply problems and drinking water had to be delivered by truck, linked in part to the numerous forest fires that devastated French forests.

According to the European Forest Fire Information System, more than 60,000 hectares of land have burned since the start of 2022, more than double that of 2021.

This aerial view taken on July 29, 2022 shows burnt trees in forest areas after forest fires near Landiras in southwestern France.

THIBAUD MORITZ / AFP

In the Netherlands, the low flow of the Rhine is affecting commercial shipping, dyke stability, water distribution and seawater intrusion issues, the report highlights.

The reduction in ship load affects the transport of coal and oil.

A ferry passes in front of the partially dry bed of the Rhine in Bingen, Germany, August 9, 2022. WOLFGANG RATTAY / REUTERS

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