Over 40% of Europe Faces Drought Amid Rising Climate Concerns

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More than 40% of Europe is currently experiencing some form of drought, raising alarms for farmers in northern regions and firefighters in Greece, as reported by the European Drought Observatory. The drought, affecting tourist-heavy areas like southern Italy, Greece, and Spain, is exacerbated by a record-breaking warm March and below-average rainfall in many parts of the continent.

According to climate experts, the situation is most severe in southeastern Spain, Cyprus, Greece, and Albania, where authorities have issued the strongest "alert" category for drought conditions. The UK's Environment Agency has also declared a drought in North West England due to significantly decreased river and reservoir levels.

In Greece, "overtourism" is intensifying the problem, as millions of tourists strain already limited water supplies, especially on islands such as Santorini and Mykonos. Professor Nikitas Mylopoulos from Thessaly University highlighted that the tourist sector's growing water demand contributes to unsustainable practices.

As conditions worsen, concerns rise about the potential for a challenging wildfire season, with Greek civil protection officials warning of heightened risks due to ongoing drought and climate change impacts.

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