Europe is facing the worst drought in the last 500 years

Europe is facing the worst drought in the last 500 years. This was stated in the press service of the European Commission.

Europe has experienced several waves of heat waves this summer, which led to shallowing of rivers, including such large ones as the Rhine, Danube and Thames, as well as forest fires in Portugal, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Albania, Spain and France. The low level of rivers cannot ensure the proper operation of hydroelectric power plants, the lack of wind does not allow wind turbines to generate enough energy. Nuclear power plants are experiencing problems with cooling systems, which does not allow them to work at full capacity.

More than half of the EU territory (64%) is located in areas where warnings or alarms have been issued due to drought.

Agriculture has suffered greatly, in a number of countries farmers claim significant crop losses.

Forecasters believe that dry and warm weather conditions in a number of western regions and in the Mediterranean will last until November.