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Parts of Sicily have so little water they’re turning summer tourists away, unable to guarantee them a shower or a toilet that flushes after a day out in the heat.
Sicily began enforcing water restrictions in February when the region declared a state of emergency amid a relentless drought. Leaky, aging infrastructure has only worsened the shortages, which have hit tourism and agriculture alike, two sectors crucial to Sicily’s economy.
Human-caused climate change is heating Europe faster than any other continent, and Sicily sits right at the center of this change. It was here that Europe’s temperature record was smashed in August 2023, when the city of Syracuse hit 48.8 degrees Celsius (119.8 degrees Fahrenheit).
Tap the link in @cnnclimate’s bio to read more.
1️⃣ Fishing boats docked at port in Sciacca in southern Sicily - Tim Graham/Getty Images
2️⃣ Sicily’s oranges are withering as drought deprives the island’s orchards and farms of much-needed water - Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images
3️⃣ Lake Pergusa in central Sicily is fed by rain and groundwater, and has no inlets or tributaries - Fabrizio Villa/Getty Images
