Vistula river matches record low in Warsaw amid drought

Poland's Vistula river matched its record low in Warsaw on Monday as low water levels affected much of the country, the national meteorological institute IMGW reported.

IMGW hydrologist Dariusz Witkowski told AFP the river was at 102 centimetres, or 40 inches, matching a record set on Friday. The Vistula is Poland's longest river.

Witkowski said Poland's hydrological situation was the most difficult since 2015, with low water levels observed in 66 percent of the country's rivers and at hydrological stations.

He said the situation could worsen in late August and early September, with forecasts indicating above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation in the coming days and weeks.

Asked by public radio station Jedynka about the risk of power outages because of the Vistula's low water level, Polish Energy Minister Milosz Motyka said Monday that he did not foresee any interruption or limitation to electricity supply.

The low water level was reported as Europe was experiencing multiple heatwaves.