Italy is gripped by drought as the
summer heat continues with no sign of rain.
Premier Paolo Gentiloni's cabinet on Thursday declared a
state of emergency for the northern provinces of Parma and
Piacenza due to the shortage of water.
Tuscan Governor Enrico Rossi has asked the government to call
a state of emergency for this region too.
Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi has told inhabitants to limit water
use for gardens, filling swimming pools and washing cars and the
city is studying a plan to ration water.
The mighty River Po is little more that a 13 centimetre
stream at 30 kilometres from the source.
The water shortage has been running since autumn 2016 and has
caused damaged to agriculture amounting to almost one billion
euros so far.
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