Extreme heat in Europe decimating crops and stoking drought

Evidence is piling up that this year’s sizzling summer in central and southeastern Europe has decimated crops, drained rivers and hurt the animal world.

As the drought’s costs become clearer, temperatures in Serbia, Romania, Hungary and Croatia soared to nearly 104 Fahrenheit again on Thursday following a few days of moderately less oppressive heat.

The region is enduring one of the hottest and driest summers in years, during which several people have died and dozens of wildfires have flared. The drought has also ratcheted up demand for water and electricity.