Central and southern Italy are facing a severe water crisis, with agricultural supplies expected to last only three more weeks. The regions of Abruzzo, Apulia, and Sicily are the hardest hit, while Campania, Basilicata, Calabria, and Sardinia are also experiencing dwindling water reserves, according to Italy's National Association of the Agricultural Water Board (ANBI).
\"Three more weeks, and there will be no more water available for agriculture in central and southern Italy,\" ANBI warned, highlighting the urgent situation. The Occhito reservoir, a crucial source for Apulia's farming and drinking water, has seen a dramatic drop of over 15 million cubic meters in just eight days.
Sicily is in dire straits as well. Earlier this month, local authorities advised tourists to consider alternative destinations due to the ongoing water shortage. As of July 26, six out of 29 reservoirs on the island no longer have usable water, according to state-run Rai News 24.
In Sardinia, dams are currently holding 1,048 million cubic meters of water, only 57 percent of their authorized capacity. This has led to rationing and interruptions in several regions, as reported by ANBI.
The water crisis arrives at a challenging time for Italy, which is anticipating a record tourist year, poised to surpass pre-pandemic levels from 2018 and 2019.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
