Italy has declared a state of emergency in five Northern Regions surrounding the Po River amid the worst drought in 70 years.

The drought threatened more than 30% of Italy’s agricultural produce, according to the Agricultural Union Coldiretti, also known as National Confederation of Growers. It is the largest association representing and stewarding Italian agriculture.

Farmers; Emilia-Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, Piedmont and Veneto will be given €36.5m (£31m; $38m) in emergency funds to tackle the water shortage. As it is, several municipalities already announced water rationing.

According to the Italian government, “The state of emergency is aimed at managing the current situation with extraordinary means and powers”, pointing out that it could take further measures if the situation did not improve.

State of the Situation

Unusually, hot weather and low rainfall across winter and spring compounded water shortages in Northern Italy and it heightened fears about the effects of climate change.

Prime Minister, Mario Draghi, disclosed that climate change is “without doubt” linked to Sunday’s (July 3, 2022) glacier collapse in the Dolomites, where seven people died, leaving 13 others are missing.

The Po is Italy’s longest river, flowing Eastward for more than 650km (404 miles). Farmers in the Po Valley revealed that salty seawater is now seeping into the river, destroying crops. Meanwhile, in the far North of Italy, the search is ongoing for the 13 people missing after the collapse of the Marmolada glacier on the highest peak in the Dolomites (a mountain in Italy).

Little Hopes From Search

As part of efforts, drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras flew over the area in search of survivors on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, although rescuers warned there was little hope of finding anyone alive. Seven people are known to have died and another eight were hurt in an avalanche caused by the glacier’s collapse. Among the dead and missing are several foreigners. Officials in Prague (capital city of the Czech Republic) said on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, that at least, one Czech citizen has been killed in the avalanche. The man had been travelling with a friend who was missing.

The Italian Prime Minister travelled to the area on Monday, July 4, 2022, and President Sergio Mattarella (Italy’s President) said the disaster is a symbol of what climate change could do the world if left unchallenged.

Experts on the other hand said Alpine glaciers have been melting steadily and the Marmolada glacier is part of the trend. A study by the University of Padua last year (2021) estimated almost 90% of the Marmolada glacier’s volume was lost in the past century.