Greek islands Alonissos and Tinos declare water emergency

The Greek ministries of Environment and Energy placed the islands of Alonissos and Tinos in the Aegean Sea under a state of emergency after potable‑water reserves were exhausted. The measures allow local authorities to fast‑track mobile desalination units and impose consumption limits for residents and tourists during the peak summer season.

The crisis is attributed to prolonged drought, unusually high temperatures and a surge in water demand from the influx of visitors, who can use up to four times more water than locals. Similar shortages have been reported on other holiday destinations such as Corfu, Karpathos, Leros, Patmos, Astypalea, Symi and Aegina. Experts warn that climate‑driven heatwaves could make such water emergencies more frequent in Greece’s islands, threatening both the resident population and the tourism‑dependent economy.