Severe drought affects Rhineland-Palatinate and Harz regions in Germany

Germany is facing significant water shortages due to prolonged drought conditions. In Rhineland-Palatinate, approximately 85 percent of the state is affected by severe drought, with soil moisture depleted up to a depth of 1.80 meters. While some northern areas show moderate drought, the southwestern regions, including the Rhenish Slate Mountains and the Middle Moselle, are experiencing extreme conditions.

In the Harz region, drinking water reservoirs managed by Harzwasserwerke have reached a critical level of only 45 percent capacity, significantly below the seasonal average of 67 percent. This shortage follows a period of low precipitation spanning the last 18 months. At the Oker Dam, water levels have dropped so low that the remains of the former village of Schulenberg have become visible. Authorities have issued warnings regarding the safety of these exposed areas.