General Director of Croatian Waters Zoran Đuroković warned that the Orljava River near Požega could dry up in the coming days, as air temperatures in Slavonia exceed 38 degrees and water levels of the Drava and other rivers fall to historic lows.
Croatia is facing extreme weather conditions that threaten water supply and the ecosystem. General Director of Croatian Waters Zoran Đuroković, in a statement to N1 Television, warned that the Orljava River in the Požega area could dry up within the next few days, while air temperatures in Slavonia reach nearly 40 degrees Celsius.
According to data reported by Osijek Express, on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 3 PM, Valpovo recorded a scorching 39 degrees. During the same period, Osijek saw 37.4, and Beli Manastir 38.3 degrees. By 4 PM, temperatures in Osijek and Slavonski Brod had climbed to 37.8 degrees. Such temperatures further accelerate evaporation from already low water levels.
Đuroković emphasized the importance of building reservoirs for a long-term solution to the problem. "We need to build more reservoirs, and we are doing so to capture water during autumn and winter, making it available to people and to plant and animal life. The Orljava River could dry up in the Požega area in the coming days. If we had a reservoir upstream of the town, we would release water during low flows and add the biological minimum," Đuroković said for N1 Television.
The situation is also critical on other waterways. The water level of the Drava at Osijek at 3 PM was -184 centimeters, which is above the historic minimum but still extremely low. An increase in water level was also recorded at Donji Miholjac, where the Drava rose by about 15 centimeters or more on two occasions, but that wave is only now moving toward Osijek and will not significantly improve the overall picture.
Despite the alarming figures, Đuroković reassured the public that drinking water supply is not in question, especially in the continental part of the country. He noted that additional measures have been taken in more isolated coastal areas to ensure regular supply. However, the prolonged drought has already led to issues with traffic, electricity production, and threats to certain animal species, reports Dnevnik.hr.
