The Calabria region in Italy has called for the declaration of a national emergency due to the ongoing severe drought in the southern area. The regional executive body stated that Calabria has requested the government to "recognize the national state of emergency regarding the serious water shortage in the drinking water sector in the territories of Greater Reggio Calabria, the Crotone province, and some municipalities in the Cosenza province." This request followed the approval of a proposal by the center-right governor, Roberto Occhiuto.
Additionally, the island of Sicily in southern Italy has experienced a severe drought with nearly a year of no rainfall and record temperatures. This has led to a 70% decline in fodder production, particularly wheat on the island, threatening the production of pasta, a staple food for Italians, according to Italy’s main farmers' union, Coldiretti. The newspaper "Il Messaggero" noted that lakes have become nearly empty. Furthermore, local authorities have implemented strict water rationing, leading to empty pipes and taps due to stringent consumption measures, with local authorities supplying homes and farms with tanks in an effort to save crops. In this context, Italian media reported that Lake Pergusa, the only natural lake in Sicily, has almost completely dried up, exemplifying the catastrophic situation of water bodies in the region.
