Gaza faces a man-made drought as water systems collapse, UNICEF says
"Children will begin to die of thirst ... Just 40% of drinking water production facilities remain functional," UNICEF spokesperson James Elder told reporters in Geneva.
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BBC News
8 hours ago
- BBC News
River Thames dries up just miles from Cotswolds source
A stretch of the River Thames has dried up just seven miles from its source in the Cotswolds. Residents of Ashton Keynes, in Wiltshire, say the river bed has been left dry and cracked with weeds growing in Friday households across the West were urged to save water after the declaration of a "nationally significant incident" caused by dry Water said groundwater and river levels were continuing to fall because of five consecutive months of below-average rainfall. Climate change has been blamed for causing world temperatures to rise, posing serious threats to people and nature including in the form of water areas of the UK are already experiencing droughts this Carter, whose home overlooks the water in Ashton Keynes, said: "This is the driest I have ever seen it. You can walk in there with a normal pair of shoes on and you're not getting any mud on them."We have lost all the fish and there is no other wildlife in there. The crayfish have even died which is not a bad thing - the American crayfish. The source of the Thames is just over the border in Gloucestershire. "It is awful, it has been like it for the last three months," added Mr added that downriver in Lechlade, Gloucestershire, which is 14.5 miles away, the water level was unaffected. "The river is full there, there is no loss whatsoever," he said Thames Water said: "The prolonged dry weather has significantly contributed to the drying of the watercourse at Ashton Keynes and both groundwater and river levels continue to fall due to five consecutive months of below average rainfall."We are following our drought plan which means we are aiming to reduce water use and protect our water resources and the environment."The Environment Agency has been approached for comment.
BBC News
21 hours ago
- BBC News
Closing canals like cutting of a motorway, marina owner says
The ongoing closure of canal locks in the North West is causing "very severe problems" for businesses who rely on the canals, one company has said.A number of locks have been closed for weeks on waterways in Greater Manchester due to water shortages after a drought was declared across the wider Holding of Portland Basin Marina in Ashton-under-Lyne, said the effect was like "a motorway that's had two ends of it cut off", and boats cannot move, which "massively" disrupting his Canal and River Trust has said the closures were necessary due to the pressure on reservoirs caused by the lack of rainfall. United Utilities has also raised concerns about reservoir levels with water levels in the region below the average for the time of Holding's business includes a site for moorings in Droylsden and the marina in Ashton-under-Lyne where three canals meet; the Ashton canal, the Huddersfield canal and the Peak Forest three have been subject to lock closures, and Mr Holding said this means customers cannot access his site, which he described as similar to a motorway service station."People come in for gas, have their toilets pumped out, we do repairs, and nobody can get to us and nobody can get out," he told BBC North West Tonight."The reality is this is the key season, it's the six weeks' holidays." Matthew Symonds from the Canal and River Trust said: "We know how disappointing the current restrictions are."As soon as water levels allow, we'll get the canals back open and remain grateful to boaters for their support and patience."Mr Holding said his marina was a major hub for inland waterways and it had effectively been "completely closed down".He said the situation was "pretty catastrophic". Canal closures in Greater Manchester Ashton Canal from lock 1 in Manchester city centre to lock 18 in DroylsdenRochdale Canal from lock 92 in Manchester city centre to lock 48 in LittleboroughThe Marple and Bosley lock flights on the Peak Forest CanalThe Huddersfield Canal from lock 1 West in Ashton-under-Lyne to lock 1 East in Huddersfield, Yorkshire. The restrictions come as low levels of rainfall have caused water supplies to dwindle in the region's reservoirs. Statistics from United Utilities show that as of 10 August 2025, its reservoirs were 57.2% full, down from 75.4% for the same period last year.A greater impact can be seen at the Pennine Sources reservoirs where water levels are currently at 37.9%, down from 70.1% last year. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- The Guardian
Drone footage shows extent of devastation left by floods in Pakistan
More than 200 fatalities were reported in the Buner district of the north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province after heavy rainfall triggered devastating floods. According to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's provincial disaster management authority, the fatalities include 28 women and 21 children. Officials said Buner was struck by a cloudburst, a rare weather phenomenon in which over 100mm of rain falls within an hour over a small area
