Austria's crisis coordinator urges water saving amid heatwave, warns of wildfire risk

Despite an ongoing heatwave, Austria's national security and crisis preparedness advisor, Peter Vorhofer, assured the public that the situation is under control. Speaking after an interministerial meeting on Thursday, Vorhofer urged citizens to conserve water, particularly for outdoor use, and to strictly avoid fires in forests.

“

Please, no fires in the forest.

The outlook for the coming months remains dry, with weather models indicating no significant relief in temperatures or rainfall until at least November. Vorhofer noted that while drinking water supplies are generally secure, localized shortages are possible in some communities due to very low groundwater levels. He stressed the importance of water conservation.

The agricultural sector faces a "historic test," Vorhofer warned, anticipating a significantly below-average harvest. He recommended government support, such as interest-free loans, to help farmers cope with the drought's impact. The risk of wildfires is "extremely high," he added, with human activity causing 85% of the 150-300 annual fires, posing an increasing threat to populated areas.

“

Whoever can save water, please do so.

Energy security remains stable, though some power plants are operating at reduced capacity due to a lack of cooling water. Photovoltaics are proving particularly helpful, and Vorhofer sees no medium-term energy problems, even suggesting Austria could assist neighboring countries if needed. Overall, Vorhofer expressed a serious but reasonably confident outlook despite the demanding conditions.

“

historic test