River Rhine close to running dry as 50% of Europe under drought warning

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Dramatic new images show dangerously low water levels in many of Europe’s rivers as more than half of the continent is at risk of drought due to the ongoing heatwave. Water levels on the Rhine River could reach a critically low point in the coming days, German officials announced, making it increasingly difficult to transport goods — including coal and gasoline — as drought and an energy crisis grip Europe. open image in gallery A goose looks for water in the dried bed of Lake Velence in Velence, Hungary open image in gallery The heatwave is affecting crops in farms throughout Europe open image in gallery A boat lays on the dried lake bed in Velence, Hungary Transporting goods by inland waterways is more important in Germany than in many other Western European countries, according to Capital Economics. open image in gallery The river Rhine is pictured with low water in Cologne, Germany open image in gallery A dead fish in the Oder River in Cigacice village, western Poland open image in gallery The ongoing hot weather and lack of rain have caused water levels on the Rhine and several other German rivers to fall In Italy, the Po River basin is facing the highest level of drought severity.