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Czechs Fear Historic Drought Threatening Harvest, Water Supplies

Czechs Fear Historic Drought Threatening Harvest, Water Supplies

(Bloomberg) -- The Czech Republic is facing the worst drought in its modern history that’s threatening to seriously damage harvest and limit the availability of drinking water, a cabinet minister said.

The rain and snowfall has been declining in the past decade, while rising average temperature has led to periods of drought in the land-locked central European country. This year, the combination of almost no snowfall and warm winter resulted in a “catastrophic” situation, according to Environment Minister Jiri Brabec.

“We are facing an unprecedented season of drought, in terms of length as well as possible consequences,” Brabec told a televised briefing. “And it’s April, when water levels in rivers should be at their highest and the soil should be soaked with water.”

While the coronavirus crisis is the most pressing issue for the country now, the climate change and the resulting droughts will become the biggest challenge in the coming years, Brabec said.

Read more: Deluge to Drought: Europe’s Wheat Whipsawed by Weather Shift

At the moment, the surface soil is extremely dry almost everywhere in the Czech Republic and some 80% of the country has extraordinarily low levels of downstream water, which is critical for supplies of drinking water for millions of people.

The government plans to boost financing for measures aimed at accumulating water in the countryside and Brabec is in talks with the Finance Ministry to add another 3.5 billion koruna ($140 million) for related projects this year.

“Unless there is a miracle that would bring a month-long continuous rain, we will see rivers and streams dry out and tens or hundreds of villages with no source of drinking water,” the minister said.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.