drought

Sicily’s only natural lake drying up as island grapples with drought

A severe drought in Sicily has nearly dried up the Mediterranean island's only natural lake which has long served as a vital resting station for birds migrating between Africa and Europe. Sicily has suffered months of below-average rainfall, with the Italian government declaring a state of emergency over the crisis, which has devastated crops and desiccated pastures. Lake Pergusa, part of a natural reserve close to the central Sicilian town of Enna, has shrunk dramatically because of a lethal ...

June 12, 2024 9:42 AM

China hit by searing temperatures, India in the middle of a prolonged heat wave

Temperatures are hitting record highs in parts of north and central China this week, while a severe drought in the east is also threatening crops, as countries across Asia brace themselves for another summer of extreme weather. China is facing several days of scorching heat, with temperatures set to reach as high as 42 degrees Celsius (107.6°F) in northern Hebei province on Wednesday, the state weather forecaster said. The National Meteorological Centre (NMC) also warned late on Tuesday of th...