Venice
The green colored water in the famous Canal Grande in Venice is causing a stir in the lagoon city. Even at the level of the world-famous Rialto Bridge, the water suddenly glowed green on Pentecost Sunday. So far there is no explanation for this – response teams are trying to find clues.
05.28.2023 06.16
Online since today, 4:06 pm
The governor of the Veneto region, Luca Zaia, released a photo of the green liquid spreading in the water. The stain was also denounced by residents. The images quickly circulated on social media – you can see a bright green dot.
An emergency meeting with the police was called immediately. According to media reports, authorities are not assuming a dangerous liquid. Italian media reports that the liquid must have leaked from the area around Campo San Luca into the Grand Canal.
AP/Luigii Costantini The numerous visitors to Venice on Sunday saw an unusual image
Water samples should provide information
Zaia said authorities asked the police to investigate to find out who was responsible. Environmental authorities are also examining the water. The fire department announced that it had collected samples together with the environmental protection agency ARPA and was examining them.
Memories of 1968
Some Venetians remembered 1968, when artist Nicolas Garcia Uriburu from Argentina painted the water in the city’s central canal green to indicate water pollution.
As recently in Italy more and more climate protectors have been noticed with colorful campaigns, there were also suspicions that this could be such a protest – but until now nobody knew about it. Representatives of the climate defense group “Last Generation” also said they had nothing to do with the incident, as reported by the newspaper “La Repubblica” in its online edition.
On Pentecost Sunday, the traditional Vogalonga regatta took place in Venice, with rowing boats, canoes and gondolas taking part. It was launched in 1974 as a protest against motorboats. According to media reports, the water turned green a few hours before the start.