AKP Phnom Penh,11 August, 2026--
Almost three-quarters of England is now in drought as conditions worsen following a dry start to August, the National Drought Group warned on Monday.
The group, made up of regulators, government officials, water companies and agricultural bodies, made the announcement after a meeting on Monday.
It warned that all regions of England are experiencing pressure on their water resources, with increasing impacts across agriculture, public supplies, navigation and the environment.
The East Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Kent and East Sussex, Solent and the South Downs became the latest areas to move into drought status on Monday.
The move means 71.3 percent of England is now experiencing a flash drought, which has developed very quickly due to a combination of very low rainfall and higher temperatures.
Around 45 million people in England are now living in drought areas, with over 27 million people under restrictions on water use.
The changes follow the driest July in 190 years, while rainfall so far in August has amounted to just 5 percent of the expected level.
"There are warnings of more dry weather and another heatwave on the way," the government said in a statement.
Tony Grayling, Strategic Drought Lead at the Environment Agency and Chair of the National Drought Group, said drought conditions are worsening and will continue to do so until there is "significant and sustained rainfall."
"The hot and dry weather is taking a real toll on farming and there will be long-lasting impacts on our environment," Grayling said.
The British government has stepped up its drought response and is actively considering ways to provide more support to the farming sector.
Britain's Water Minister Emma Hardy said: "We know how challenging this summer has been, especially for our hard-working farmers who are at the sharp end of climate change and an increasing number of floods and droughts."

AKP-Xinhua