cyprus drought — cyprus drought — Cyprus is currently grappling with its worst drought in over a century, according to new satellite imagery from NASA that vividly illustrates the island’s desiccated landscape. The data, captured on 18 December 2024 and 18 December 2025, reveals a stark transformation in the island’s natural vegetation.
Photo: in-cyprus.philenews.com
The 2024 imagery showed the island largely thriving, with near-normal levels of greenery following a notably wet month. In sharp contrast, the 2025 image depicts extensive browning across agricultural fields and semi-natural areas, a phenomenon described by scientists at the Cyprus Institute as ‘mega-drying’. This change is not merely statistical; it is now clearly visible from low-earth orbit, emphasising the gravity of the situation.
Photo: in-cyprus.philenews.com
Cyprus drought: Unprecedented Water Shortages
Cyprus Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou has termed 2025 the ‘worst year’ for water scarcity in over 120 years. As of 24 December 2025, the island’s dam capacity has plummeted to a mere 11%, equating to roughly 33 million cubic metres of water. This is a staggering decrease from the 27% capacity recorded in the same period last year, highlighting the rapidly deteriorating water situation.
Storms Fail to Alleviate the Crisis
Even recent weather events, such as the storms associated with ‘Byron’ earlier this month, have failed to replenish Cyprus’s reservoirs. Officials have explained that the soil, now excessively dry, absorbed nearly all the precipitation before it could flow into river basins. This has left the island’s water sources critically low, exacerbating the ongoing crisis.
Visual Evidence of Environmental Change
The satellite images serve as a powerful reminder of the environmental challenges facing Cyprus. They illustrate not just the immediate impacts of drought but also the long-term implications for agriculture and the ecosystem. As the island continues to experience these severe conditions, the urgency for sustainable water management strategies becomes increasingly apparent.
