Exceptional” drought in France – restrictions introduced”

Hanna Kindwall

 

Published 22:21Updated 22:22

The extreme heat in France has led to a drought.

In 99 of the country's 101 departments, water restrictions are now in place.

– Our first priority is to guarantee access to drinking water, says Monique Barbut, Minister for Ecological Transition, after an emergency meeting today.

France is currently experiencing an “exceptional” drought. This was said by the country's Minister for Ecological Transition, Monique Barbut, after she held an emergency meeting on the situation today.

Large parts of the country, 99 of 101 departments, currently have some form of restriction on the use of water. Of these, almost half, 43 departments, are at emergency level.

This usually means that it is forbidden to fill your pool or wash your car. Water may be used, among other things, as drinking water and in healthcare, according to Le Monde.

Right now, 100,000 residents are affected by water shortages.

“Everything indicates that the situation will continue to worsen without noticeable rain in the coming weeks,” says Monique Barbut.

At the same time, the country has repeatedly broken heat records, which is increasing the demand for water.

On June 23, 44.3 degrees were measured in southern France when a heat wave prevailed in the country. That week, 25 percent more water was sold compared to the weeks before, according to Le Monde.

“The difference compared to the end of June is that now tourists are also coming here,” says Denis 

Guilbert, responsible for drinking water in the Vendée region to Le Monde.

Fires not yet extinguished

The extensive fires in the Fontainebleau area outside Paris have been under control since Tuesday afternoon, but are not yet completely extinguished.

“Complete extinguishing of the fires will probably take several more days, or even weeks,” writes the prefect of Seine-et-Marne in a press release. Almost 2,000 hectares of land have burned.

The weather has been cooler and windier in recent days, which has made it easier to fight the fires, but according to Le Monde, around 800 firefighters were still working in the area on Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, fires are still being fought in northern Corsica and in Savoie in eastern France. In the mountain villages of Planay and Prakognan-la-Vanoise, 5,000 people were stranded when the fire reached the road leading to the villages. The fire has now been controlled and residents can leave