Italian Premier Mario Dragh’s government has declared a state of emergency in five northern Italian regions due to a worsening drought situation in these regions.
“We have declared a regional state of emergency and we will follow the procedures to make sure that, through a national state of emergency, the rapidity of these interventions in the most delicate areas of our region will be recognized,” said Eugenio Giani, the governor of the Tuscany region.
The affected five regions, for which a 36.5 million euro ($39.5m) fund has also been allocated to tackle the emergency situation, include:
- Emilia-Romagna
- Friuli-Venezia Giulia
- Lombardy
- Piedmont
- Veneto
Italy is facing a scarcity of rainfall along with an unusually early heat wave, particularly in the northern agricultural Po valley, which has been hit by its worst drought in decades.
“For the Po basin, this is the most serious water crisis of the last 70 years, according to an analysis by the Po River District Basin Authority,” Prime Minister Mario Draghi said on Thursday, in a translation of the statement.
“There are two categories of causes for this water crisis: One is the rainfall deficit of the last three years. There has been a low level of rainfall, of course not just this year but also in previous years,” the Prime Minister added. “The general rise in temperatures is also contributing; there is no doubt that climate change is having an effect.”
The state of emergency provides “extraordinary means and powers” to help guarantee public safety, and compensation for losses while seeking to guarantee normal living conditions for those in the area.
Low-level water in reservoirs of Italy
The lakes and rivers of Italy are showing significantly low water levels which are adding to the catastrophe of drought. The account of such low-level water reservoirs is given below:
- Lakes Maggiore and Garda – located close to Milan between the regions of Piedmont and Lombardy – were hit by lower than normal water levels for this time of year.
- The Tiber River, which flows through central Italy and Rome, is also running at very low levels.
- Italy is losing water from the Po River as well because of what Prime Minister called “structural causes,” meaning “poor maintenance of the basins, poor network maintenance.”
Owing to the lack of water, several municipalities have announced restrictions. Verona, a city of a quarter of a million people, has rationed the use of drinking water, while Milan has announced the closure of its decorative fountains.
The emergency declaration came a day after at least seven people died after a glacier collapsed in the Italian Alps which Draghi said was “without doubt” linked to global warming.