Water crisis in Greece: 13 islands declare a state of emergency

Critical situation on the Greek islands

A total of 13 Greek islands in the Aegean Sea are now officially in a state of emergency. The reason is an acute shortage of drinking water, which has put the local population and tourists in a difficult situation. The picturesque island of Poros was the latest to join the list.

"Water losses in the outdated water supply system reach 60%, which further complicates resource management," experts point out.

Why is there not enough water?

• Tourism pressure: In places like Mykonos, consumption in the summer is 9 times higher than in winter.
• Climate change: Temperatures of up to 40 degrees and strong winds are draining reserves.
• Outdated infrastructure: The government is urgently allocating funds for a new water supply network.

Measures and restrictions

Local authorities have taken strict measures to save the precious resource:

• Hotel swimming pools must now be filled only with seawater.
• Serious restrictions on irrigation in agriculture have been introduced.

The situation is complicated by the high risk of forest fires. Today, six regions of Greece, including Chios, Samos, Kalymnos, and Halkidiki, are under an extreme danger alert. The lack of sufficient water is also becoming an obstacle for firefighting teams struggling to contain the spread of flames.