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Drought declared in 'almost three-quarters' of England, UK government says
Euronews • • world
Key Points:
- Approximately 71.3% of England is currently in drought, following the driest July on record and forecasts of a fifth heatwave with little rain ahead.
- The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) reports that all UK regions face water resource pressures, with most of England experiencing a "flash drought" caused by low rainfall and high temperatures.
- This marks the third drought in five years for Britain, which also faces its fifth heatwave this summer, breaking multiple temperature records and leading to irrigation restrictions and hosepipe bans affecting over 27 million people.
- The drought has severely impacted agriculture, with farmers warning of low crop yields and potential food shortages, while 45 million people now live in drought-affected areas out of the UK’s 69.3 million population.
- Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events to climate change, raising concerns about long-term environmental and economic impacts.
