Catalonia declares drought emergency, extending restrictions to Barcelona

Water reserves fall below 16% as region's president says it has not rained in some areas for three years

After more than 1,000 days of drought, the Catalan government has formally announced a state of emergency, extending water restrictions to Barcelona and the surrounding region.

Announcing the measures on Thursday, Pere Aragones, the Catalan president, said that in some areas it had not rained at all for three years, describing the situation as the worst drought in modern history.