Several European countries are experiencing severe drought conditions, with major rivers like the Rhine and Po stretching to historically low levels. The crisis is impacting agriculture, transport, and drinking water supplies.

Germany, France, and Italy have declared emergency zones in multiple regions. Farmers report crop failures, and river transport companies are struggling with reduced water depth, halting the movement of goods.

Climate scientists warn that such droughts may become a regular occurrence without significant global action on climate change. EU leaders are meeting next week to discuss a continent-wide drought resilience strategy.