– Right now it’s 34 degrees. It is not uncommon to have those temperatures in this area, but the unusual thing is that on Monday we had a heat record of 37 degrees in the shade. Then a red warning was sent out. The high temperatures have lasted for several days.
Tonje Lissandrin (46) told Dagbladet on Wednesday. She has lived in Italy for several years, but she has never experienced such high temperatures as now.
The country has been the last few days affected by intense heat, and warnings have been issued in several cities.
– Gets quite scorched
The area Lissandrin lives in is called Colli Euganei, a volcanic wine district about half an hour inland from Venice.
– We live in a holiday paradise, but now it is very hot here. Perhaps the worst thing is the humidity. It is very uncomfortable, and the heat is dangerous for those under three years and adults over 60. It affects us very much in everyday life. We almost dare not go out, she says.
HOT: On Wednesday it was 34 degrees in Colli Euganei. Photo: Private
sea view
Tourist error
Due to the unbearable heat, Lissandrin states that they must follow recommendations from the district.
– We have been told that we must drink a lot of water and not be active outdoors. It is also recommended that you do not drink coffee or alcohol throughout the day, she says.
– Complete chaos
According to Lissandrin, most of the locals manage to follow the recommendations. On the other hand, it is the tourists who expose themselves to a greater danger.
– There are almost only tourists out on the streets now. Around lunchtime, they all sit out at restaurants and drink prosecco. The Italians know that you should stay inside in the middle of the day, she says.
sea view
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Declared state of crisis
On Monday, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi declared a state of emergency and announced a massive crisis package in response to the severe drought that has hit parts of the country, according to The Guardian.
The crisis package of 36.5 million euros, approximately 370 million Norwegian kroner, was approved at a cabinet meeting on Monday night.
The northern part of Italy is particularly hard hit, and the large lakes, including Lake Garda, hold much less water than is normal at this time of year.
– Stay inside!
The country’s longest river, Po, is at its lowest level in over 70 years in some places along the river course. The river is very important for the irrigation of rice fields, fields and pastures for cows. According to the authorities, the lack of water for cattle can threaten the production of parmesan cheese, which is made from milk.
In the regions of Emilia Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lombardia, Piedmont and Veneto, a state of crisis has been declared. In some towns and villages in northern Italy, such as in the Verona region of Veneto, the authorities have imposed restrictions and asked residents to save water.
The drought is the result of an atmospheric high-pressure system driven by climate change, especially in the last 100 years, according to research published by the American journal Nature Geoscience Monday.
DROUGHT: A ship, which has been under water since World War II, appeared in the river Po as a result of the drought. Photo: Piero Cruciatti / AFP / NTB CRUCIATTI / NTB
sea view
– Completely necessary
Lissandrin works as a writer, so for much of her working day she sits indoors with an air conditioner. However, she is more concerned about the farmers in the area, and those who work all day out at the market in the city.
Therefore, she believes that it is good and “absolutely necessary” for the government to put in place a crisis package to deal with the drought.
Warmest in over 20 years
– There is a large food and wine production in the area, where risotto rice is grown, among other things. It needs a lot of water to grow, and that is an important part of the food traditions here. It is important to be self-sufficient, and to the extent that you can protect short-haul food, you should do so. Also with regard to food shortages as a result of the war in Ukraine. It is very worrying, she says.
Furthermore, she adds that it has been a record hot year so far. In the winter of 2022, the highest temperatures ever recorded at that time of year were recorded.
In addition, there are also high electricity prices in the country, which means that more vulnerable people save on electricity.
– Especially old people are reluctant to turn on air conditioning, says Lissandrin.
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