Severe Drought and Heatwave Impacting Romania’s Agriculture and Water Supply

Severe Drought Grips Romania Amidst Ongoing Heatwave

An unrelenting heatwave has plunged several regions of Romania into a state of severe drought, resulting in alarming consequences such as the desiccation of numerous lakes and the devastation of countless agricultural crops. In Galati County, located in the southern part of the country, residents have witnessed the alarming sight of Talabasca Lake nearly drying up entirely, as the region has not experienced any rainfall for the past three months.

Local inhabitants are expressing deep concern over the dire situation, lamenting the prolonged absence of rain. One local man shared his fears, stating, “It is very bad what is happening; if no one stands up, this country will soon become a desert.” The repercussions of the drought are already evident, with Romania bracing for significant losses in its corn and sunflower crops. In response to this crisis, the country’s agricultural minister has stepped in to offer compensation to affected farmers.

This current predicament follows another troubling event that took place in July, when residents across Romania faced a severe water crisis. This situation left many communities with rationed water supplies due to an extended period of drought and insufficient rainfall. Villagers in at least six counties—Constanța, Alba, Dolj, Iași, Prahova, and Gorj—were forced to rely on water rations to make it through the dry spells.

Experts have reported that water consumption tends to triple during these sweltering periods, which has overwhelmed the capacity of local water tanks, exacerbating the challenges faced by the affected communities.