European researchers have warned that the severe drought hitting Europe is “getting worse,” noting that rains in some areas are helping to mitigate the impact, but accompanying thunderstorms are not without risks.
The latest monthly report from the European Union’s Global Drought Monitor highlights the risks of the current drying up of soils due to successive heatwaves since May and a “persistent lack” of rain.
The observatory has renewed the warning issued in its previous report that drought threatens about half of the European Union, indicating that lower river levels and reduced water resources are affecting energy generation. production capacity and reduce crop yields.
“A severe drought that has hit several parts of Europe since the beginning of the year intensified and worsened in early August,” according to a report published by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre.
He expected an increase in the “risk of drought” in large parts of Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, Romania and Hungary, as well as in non-EU countries such as the UK, Serbia, Ukraine and Moldova.
According to the report, 17 percent of Europe is now at the highest level of danger, compared with 11 percent in July.
The researchers believe that “recent rains (in mid-August) may have eased drought conditions in parts of Europe. But in some areas, thunderstorms have caused damage and loss and may have limited the benefit of the rain.”
The report added that Mediterranean parts of the European Union should prepare for “hotter and drier conditions than usual” before November.
Source: AFP