Measures against the effects of drought
In over 600 localities in Romania, the water supply is restricted due to the drought.
Roxana Vasile, 27.08.2024, 14:00
The heat wave that has been affecting Romania since June will gradually decrease in most of the country. People will be able to recover from the high temperatures, the increased thermal discomfort and the tropical nights that marked almost the entire summer. However, the weather is expected to be warmer than normal, with very few showers.
Meteorologist Iris Răducanu: “On Wednesday, the heatwave will continue to be felt in the western regions, alongside high thermal discomfort. Maximum temperatures will be up to 35 degrees Celsius. In the south of the territory, the weather will be generally unstable and there will be showers, electrical discharges and wind intensifications.”
Instability will also be present in the southeast, locally in the east, in the mountains and in smaller areas in the center and north. After three hot and dry months, what will September be like? Iris Răducanu: “The next four weeks will be with higher temperatures than those specific to the period, especially through the western and southern regions, while rains will be scarce.”
The flow of the Danube at the entrance to Romania is slightly more than half of the multi-year average, and in 42 sectors out of the 120 monitored, it is below the minimum necessary to satisfy water demand, according to the Romanian Water Administration.
As for the inland rivers, due to the heatwave and the lack of precipitation, two watercourses in the south have completely dried up. In over 600 localities in the country, especially in the east, the water supply is restricted. In almost 300 others, not connected to centralized systems, the wells have dried up. Vegetation fires add to this picture in the counties of Vâlcea (south) and Vaslui (east). In fact, in Vaslui alone, approximately 270 hectares of dry vegetation burned in the last few days, with military firefighters intervening to extinguish 25 outbreaks.
Authorities have called on the population to be aware that fire in hot periods and with advanced dryness, out of control or in strong wind conditions, can endanger the health and even the lives of people and animals and cause significant material damage. In agriculture, farmers are preparing for a new agricultural year, but this summer’s drought has caused them significant damage. Moreover, the extent of the damage in Romania could have an impact on the entire European continent, according to analysts cited by Reuters. They believe that, for example, Romania, which competes with France for the title of the largest producer of corn in the EU, due to the numerous waves of drought and heat wave, could have a 30% lower production this year. It’s a challenge to grow corn in an oven. It is one of the most difficult seasons that Romanian farmers have faced – says one of the analysts. The Ministry of Agriculture in Bucharest announced that among the measures considered, in addition to compensation, is the suspension of bank installments for farmers from September 1.
