ATHENS, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has warned that the country is facing a worsening water scarcity crisis due to climate change, as water levels in key reservoirs continue to drop sharply, local media reported Thursday.

According to Kathimerini English edition, Mitsotakis made the remarks on Wednesday during a cabinet meeting focused on long-term water management.

He said reservoir levels supplying Athens have fallen by more than 50 percent since 2022, placing Greece 19th globally for water scarcity risk.

"Water reserves in Attica have decreased dramatically, and dam levels are at historic lows, affecting both supply and energy generation," he noted.

Greece, located in southern Europe's climate-vulnerable zone, saw its warmest winter and summer on record last year, with some regions experiencing months without rain.

To address the crisis, Mitsotakis said over 1,200 water management projects are underway, including desalination, water recycling, and the use of coastal springs. Plans also include merging indebted local water providers to improve efficiency.

Water loss from aging infrastructure remains a major challenge. Nearly 50 percent of drinking water is lost due to pipe leaks and theft -- twice the European Union's average, official data show.

"This is a national priority. Urgent reforms are needed to ensure water security for the decades ahead," Mitsotakis emphasized. ■