Seven Greek islands in the Aegean Sea have declared drought emergencies to conserve water as climate change intensifies summer heat and disrupts rainfall patterns.The crisis is particularly severe on Astypalaia, where residents rely on bottled water and face a second driest season since 2020.

Local authorities are struggling to balance water needs between tourists and residents, with desalination plants and restricted irrigation efforts underway.Farmers like Evdokia Palatianou are forced to use brackish well water, risking crop failure.The island's main reservoir, holding 150,000 cubic meters of water, is projected to last five and a half months with current consumption rates.Environment Minister Stavros Papastavrou has allocated €15m for water infrastructure, including €1.5m for Astypalaia.Scientists warn drought conditions could worsen by 2049, threatening the islands' water security.The crisis highlights the vulnerability of tourism-dependent economies to climate change impacts.