Seven Greek islands declare drought emergencies, cut water

Seven Greek islands in the Aegean Sea have declared drought emergencies this summer, imposing water restrictions and accelerating infrastructure projects as climate change and surging tourism strain limited resources. The island of Astypalaia, a focal point of the crisis, is experiencing its second driest season since 2020 despite a wet winter elsewhere in Greece, forcing authorities to implement a water emergency in May.

The island's sole reservoir, a man-made lake built in the mid-1990s, currently holds only about 150,000 cubic meters of water, roughly one-sixth of its capacity. With daily summer consumption reaching approximately 900 cubic meters, officials estimate the reserves could be depleted within five and a half months without intervention. To conserve the supply, authorities have blocked irrigation for farmers in the fertile Livadi region since April and fast-tracked a temporary desalination plant for the main town of Chora, which has a daily output of 600 cubic meters.

Mayor Nikos Komineas described the difficult decision to cut off farmers, stating they acted with a heavy heart but saw no alternative to safeguard the lake's reserves until autumn. He expressed...