Many Germans go to Italy during the summer holidays. The Foreign Office is now warning against travel to many southern regions of the country. The reason for this is the drought and the resulting water shortage.
The highest drought alert level, red, applies to Sicily. Cities such as Catania, Palermo, Taormina and Mondello are particularly affected. “There is a serious shortage of water,” writes Das Ministry of Foreign Affairs on its website.
Holidaymakers in Italy should get informed before starting their trip
In addition to Sicily, regions such as Umbria, Lazio and Sardinia are also affected. Here too, the office warns of drought and possible forest and woodland fires.
The situation remains critical until there is sufficient rain. Vacationers should inform themselves about the current situation before traveling.
Climate change is impacting tourist destinations
But Italy is not the only country suffering from the lack of rain. In many popular tourist destinations in Southern Europe the prevailing situation is due to extreme heat and drought, water scarcity. In addition to Italy, the regions of Bulgaria and Greece are currently particularly affected. In Bulgaria, dozens of villages are without drinking water, often because it is used to irrigate fields.
In Greece, water levels have dropped by a fifth after a winter with little rain, causing problems on the islands of Mykonos, Paros and Santorini.