Power cuts, water shortage hit Europe amid constant heatwaves

Continuous heatwaves in southern and eastern Europe have surged in electricity demand and power outages, reported Xinhua.

The increased use of air conditioning units and cold water has put unprecedented pressure on electricity and water infrastructures, causing many systems to fail in recent weeks.

According to the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service, the Earth experienced its warmest day on record on July 22, with the daily global average temperature hitting a new high of 17.16 degrees Celsius.

"We are now in truly uncharted territory and as the climate keeps warming, we are bound to see new records being broken in future months and years," said Carlo Buontempo, the service's director.

In Italy, cities like Rome, Naples, and Florence saw temperatures nearing record highs, while Sardinia and Sicily faced conditions up to 44 degrees Celsius. The country is increasing energy imports as hydropower production fell and air conditioning use surged, Italian media reported.

The Mediterranean island country of Malta has endured day-long blackouts in certain areas, with the underground distribution network failing under intense heat. In Gzira, the power was out for almost 40 hours until repairs were made.

"I'm disappointed because we knew that summer would bring about an increase in temperatures but we didn't plan well in advance. There has been very little investment in the distribution network in the last decade so it's obvious that they are going to give way under this pressure," Maltese resident Steve Vella told Xinhua.

Romania also experienced electricity fluctuations. The authorities have recommended energy-saving measures, such as setting air conditioning units at 24-26 degrees Celsius and avoiding using laundry machines between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. (1500-1800 GMT).

In Montenegro, the electricity grid was significantly strained under a "red" weather alert. Businesspeople in Tivat recently protested power outages, citing harm to their operations and the overall economy.

A regional power failure on June 21 caused blackouts in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, and Montenegro. Enes Aliskovic, head of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Export Promotion Agency, said that Montenegro's surge in electricity demand during peak tourist season led to the collapse of its power system.

Croatia set a new electricity consumption record of 3,341 megawatt-hours on July 16, at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT). Given the increasingly intense tourist season and the increasing air conditioning of all tourist facilities and workspaces, and residential properties, the maximum hourly electricity consumption record is expected to be broken again this summer, according to the Croatian Transmission System Operator (HOPS).

Bogomil Ferfila, a Slovenian political scientist, attributed the power supply tension in the Western Balkans to factors such as chronic underfunding of energy infrastructure, continued mismanagement, and geopolitical barriers. During the peak season, electricity consumption may increase abnormally, causing the power grid to overload, he told Xinhua.

Bogomil Ferfila, a Slovenian political scientist, attributed power supply tensions in the Western Balkans to chronic underfunding of energy infrastructure, mismanagement, and geopolitical barriers. He told Xinhua that during peak season, electricity consumption may spike abnormally, overloading the power grid.

Meanwhile, water shortages are also striking some parts of Europe. Recently, hotels in Sicily, Italy, have turned visitors away because of water shortages. Parts of the island region suffered severely with water reportedly available only two or three hours a day. In some remote areas, residents have protested for not having access to running water for six weeks.

Similarly, villages in Bulgaria's Kardzhali region faced serious potable water shortages due to the heatwave and lack of rain. Water use restrictions were implemented in Pchelarovo, about 230 km southeast of Bulgaria's capital Sofia, where residents had water for only four hours a day.

High temperatures in southern and eastern Europe are expected to continue, keeping power and water supplies under pressure.