'Nothing left in the pipes': Europe tackles unprecedented water shortages as heatwave rages

euronews.com:

The French government has set up a crisis team to tackle a historic drought that has left more than 100 municipalities short of drinking water. 

Trucks are taking water to those areas, as "there is nothing left in the pipes", Minister for Ecological Transition Christophe Béchu said. "This is a situation like nothing we've ever seen... And the bad news is that, as far as we can see, there's no reason to think that it will stop."

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has warned that France is facing the "most severe drought" ever recorded in the country. 

The heatwave that has baked the country since June has prompted trees and bushes to shed their leaves early, creating scenes that look autumnal.

After a cooling off in some regions, the French national meteorological service Météo-France is forecasting further increases in temperatures from Sunday onwards and still drier soil despite recent storms.

Temperatures well above 30 degrees Celsius and rising to as high as 37°C in parts of the south are forecast from Sunday and over the next few days.

"Maximum temperatures between 32°C and 36°C could very probably remain for a long time over a large part of the country," said Météo-France.

In Rome, residents and tourists cooled off at the many water fountains dotted across the city. 

Popular tourist destinations in Italy such as Florence and Palermo are among 16 Italian cities on the "red alert" list, with temperatures topping 40°C.

Rice production in the river Po Valley is under severe threat as drought and hot weather continue to cause paddy fields to completely dry up and become salty from use of aquifers.

Farmers say harvests of the rice used for risotto could be damaged for years by the increased salt content in the earth, which is killing