This is the highest percentage recorded for July since data collection began in 2012, exceeding the average for the period between 2012 and 2021 by 21 points, with consecutive record figures every month since the beginning of the year. The drought index from the European Copernicus program observatory, which is based on satellite monitoring, combines three criteria: precipitation, soil moisture, and vegetation condition. Western media quoted the observatory as saying that the drought percentage rose from 9% in June to 56% in July in Hungary, from 6% to 43% in Kosovo, and from 1% to 23% in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since the beginning of summer, this has been accompanied by a record number of forest fires, including those igniting in often illegal open landfills, emitting smoke and toxic gases.
Meanwhile, Eastern Mediterranean countries like Turkey are experiencing ongoing drought affecting more than 60% of their land monthly since March, contributing to fires. Fires in the western part of the country on Friday led to the evacuation of three villages and the suspension of navigation in the Dardanelles Strait.
In Central Europe, Germany faces a heatwave across various regions in the coming days. A heat warning was issued on Tuesday morning for the south and southwest of the country, noting that temperatures will rise on Wednesday and Thursday, reaching up to 38 degrees Celsius in some areas, with only a slight drop along the coasts.
The observatory pointed out that the situation in the United Kingdom is improving compared to previous months, yet more than two-thirds of the country still suffers from water shortages. As for Spain and Portugal, the situation remains relatively better with low drought rates of 7% and 5%, respectively.
