Italy declared a state of emergency in five regions in the north of the country and approved urgent funds to face the repercussions of the drought that swept the Po Valley in recent weeks and is not getting worse.
The government said in a statement that it had declared a state of emergency in five regions, namely Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Julian, Lombardy, Piedmont and Veneto, until December 31.
She added that it had also decided to allocate an amount of 36.5 million euros ($39.5 million) to help those affected.
Italy is facing an unusually early heat wave and a lack of rainfall, especially in the agricultural Po Valley in the north of the country, which was hit by the worst drought in 70 years.
The state of emergency provides “exceptional powers” to help ensure public safety and compensate for losses while seeking to ensure normal living conditions for those in the area.
According to the country’s largest agricultural union, Coldiretti, the drought threatens more than 30 percent of the national agricultural production and about half of the production of livestock farms in Wadi Bo.
Lakes Maggiore and Garda have also been affected by lower than normal water levels at this time of year, while the Tiber River, which runs through Rome, has also fallen south. The Po River is the largest reservoir of water on the peninsula, and most of it is used by farmers.
In recent days, several municipalities have imposed restrictions on water use. Verona, with a population of a quarter of a million people, has rationalized the use of drinking water, while Milan has announced the closure of its ornate fountains. Another consequence of the drought is a sharp decline in hydropower production.
Hydroelectric plants, mostly in the mountainous regions in the north of the country, account for nearly 20 percent of the national energy production.
The announcement comes one day after at least seven people died in an avalanche in the Italian Alps that Prime Minister Mario Draghi said was “undoubtedly” linked to climate change.
