Large parts of Italy have been dealing with a period of drought and extreme heat for weeks. Drought and strong winds therefore continue to fuel forest and forest fires. The Italian government of Prime Minister Mario Draghi declared a state of emergency on Monday evening over water shortages in five northern Italian regions. A serious fire has broken out in the city of Rome for the second time in a week.
EUR 35 million will be made available for the regions of Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia and Emilia Romagna to limit the negative effects of the months-long drought, it was said after a meeting of the Council of Ministers.
State of emergency soon also in central Italy
The Emilia Romagna region, where the River Po is located, will receive the largest amount – 10.9 million euros. Northern Italy in particular is currently struggling with severe drought. Due to the persistent water shortage, a state of emergency could soon also be requested in the central Italian regions of Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio.
According to the Coldiretti farmers’ association, there are 270,000 farms in the drought-stricken regions. “The water shortage is a national emergency,” said the head of the farmers’ association, Ettore Prandini.
Ash partially rained from the sky
Emergency services evacuated children from two sports centers in a major fire in the Italian capital Rome. The fire broke out in a park in the northwest of the city, a few kilometers from the Vatican, the fire service announced Monday evening. A helicopter supports the units on the ground during the firefighting activities. In the center of the city, some ash rained from the sky and a high column of smoke was visible. Several houses have been evacuated, according to the media.
Exactly one week ago, a fire in several caravans also sparked a large-scale firefighting operation in western Rome. Several people had to be evacuated from their homes. Several dozen were examined on the spot by rescue workers.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
