The city of Venice was taken aback on Sunday, May 28, as the waters of its main canal transformed into a striking fluorescent green hue near the iconic Rialto Bridge. Concerned authorities, including Italy’s fire department and regional environmental protection agency, are currently working diligently to unravel the cause behind this unusual phenomenon.
Italy’s fire department revealed that samples of the altered waters have been collected and sent to the regional environmental protection agency for analysis. Their experts are currently engaged in the task of identifying the substance responsible for this dramatic color change, as stated in a tweet from the department. Meanwhile, the Venice prefect, recognizing the gravity of the situation, has promptly convened an emergency meeting of the police forces. The objective is to ascertain the nature of the incident and explore potential countermeasures to address it, according to reports from the Ansa news agency.
This incident brings to mind recent occurrences in Italy, where environmental groups have resorted to unconventional forms of protest by altering the appearances of monuments. In one notable case, activists used vegetable charcoal to turn the waters of Rome’s iconic Trevi Fountain black, symbolizing their opposition to fossil fuels. However, unlike those instances, no activist group has come forward to claim responsibility for the mysterious transformation of Venice’s canal waters.
As the investigation unfolds, residents and visitors alike remain captivated by this surreal spectacle, awaiting answers about the origins and implications of the fluorescent green waters.