France activates crisis unit amid worst drought on record

The French government activated a crisis unit to deal with the worst drought on record and warned conditions could get worse, Report informs, citing Bloomberg.

The inter-ministerial task force will coordinate water supply to areas most affected and track the drought's impact on energy production and agriculture, the office of Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said. Borne's office also urged people to conserve water and said restrictions would continue to be put in place where necessary to prioritize health needs, security, and drinking water supply.

"This drought is the worst ever recorded in our country," Borne's office said in a statement. "The lack of rain is aggravated by the accumulation of successive heat waves which reinforce evaporation and water needs."

The situation, which follows a hot, dry spring, has led the government to enforce water restrictions in 93 out of the 96 administrative regions known as departments. More than 100 towns are without drinking water, a government minister said.