As Europe continues facing a historic drought, an ominous warning has been unearthed..According to a German reporter, low water levels in the Elbe River, which runs from the mountains of Czech Republic through Germany, has revealed a centuries-old "Hunger Stone." .The stone, dating back to a drought in 1616, has a warning which reads, "If you see me, weep.” Hydrological landmarks serve as a warning to future generations that they will have to endure famine-related hardships if the water sinks to that level again..“The basic inscriptions warn of the consequences of drought," a team of Czech researchers wrote in a 2013 study. "It expressed that drought had brought a bad harvest, lack of food, high prices and hunger for poor people.".Many of the stones were erected following the famines of 1816-1817, which were caused by the eruptions of the Tambora volcano in Indonesia. The sulphur from the eruption caused a climate anomaly, with cooler temperatures and heavier rains leading to failed food harvests across Europe..Scientists at the European Drought Observatory said Europe's current drought is on track to be the worst one in 500 years. They said 47% of Europe is in drought warning conditions, while another 17% is on alert..Water levels on the river Rhine River in Germany are at about half of their usual depth for this time of the year, which had led to difficulties in shipping essential products like coal. While some vessels are still capable of sailing in the shallow water, they are unable to be at full capacity, meaning transport costs for cargo owners have increased five-fold..This comes as Russia has drastically reduced energy exports to Europe in response to sanctions, leading major German cities to bring in strict energy-saving rules..READ MORE: German city of Hanover brings in strict energy-saving measures.Hanover Mayor Belit Onay said the city's aims to reduce its energy consumption by 15%, as the gas shortages pose a "major challenge for the municipalities, especially for a large city like Hanover.".Germany has historically relied on Russia gas to power its buildings, as 32% of the country's natural gas comes from Russia. German citizens have become acutely aware of this dilemma, leading Google searches of "firewood" in the country to skyrocket..Even before the drought hit Europe, German Economic Cooperation and Development Minister Svenja Schulze warned that the world was facing an "acute" food crisis due to COVID-19 and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He said the world was about to see the worst famine since World War II..As for the ongoing drought, the European Drought Observatory said conditions aren’t expected to improve anytime soon. "We have estimated a worsening of the situation in most of Europe," they said.
