More than half of its territories, 52%, is affected by the fourth consecutive month, according to the European Drought Observatory (EDO).
The rate is the highest recorded for July since the commencement of the observation in 2012 and exceeds 21 percentage points on the average of the 2012-2024 period. The drought in the area has exceeded the monthly record for each month since the beginning of the year.
The drought index of the European Observatory, based on satellite observations, combines three parameters: rainfall, soil humidity and vegetation. Includes three levels of drought: monitoring, warning, alarm.
Eastern Europe and Balkans Rapid Increasing Drought
Eastern Europe and the Balkans are particularly affected. In many countries, the percentage of territories that have gone to the alarm rate has increased: in Hungary, it passed 9% in June to 56% in July, in Kosovo from 6% to 43% and Bosnia-Herzegovina, from 1% to 23%. The heatwaves that hit the Balkans since the beginning of summer are accompanied by unprecedented fires, many of which occur in the open landfills of which toxic fumes are released.
In the eastern Mediterranean, Turkey has also been affected by persistent drought, which accounts for 60% of the country’s area every month since March and favors the fire. On Friday, August 8th, fires in the western part of the country caused the evacuation of three towns and the interruption of navigation in the Dardanelles.
Worrying but also milder the picture in western Europe
In terms of Western Europe, in France, two -thirds of territories, 68%, were hit by drought in July, on a clear rise to June (44%). The country lived one of the largest fires in its history: 130,000 acres were burned in the district of Od in the southwestern part of the country. France is now facing a new heatwave, the second of the year.
In the United Kingdom, the situation has improved compared to previous months, but more than two -thirds of the country are facing water scarcity.
Spain and Portugal remain relatively protected with relatively low drought rates (7% and 5% respectively).
