Due to the invasion of midges, residents of the Italian coast demand to declare a state of emergency
Millions of small midges have invaded the coastal town of Orbetello in Italy. Local residents are calling on authorities to declare a state of emergency and help deal with the insect infestation, which is making everyday life difficult and threatening local businesses. About this informs Associated Press.
The mass influx of midges began about three weeks ago. The cause of this phenomenon is called the mass death of fish fry in 2024 – it was they that fed on midge larvae. Similar situations have happened before, but this time the increase in the number of insects is associated with a lack of oxygen in the lagoon ecosystem.
The authorities of Orbetello allocated 300,000 euros to fight against the midge infestation and promised to take measures after consultations with local businesses. Also, the municipality created a permanent commission for the protection of citizens and the economic activity of the district. At the same time, local residents consider these measures to be insufficient and have filed a petition with the demand to declare a state of emergency in Tuscany and to allocate more funds for the fight against insects.
“We cannot walk in the fresh air, open the windows. We were separated and locked in our houses.” – explained the author of the petition, placing the responsibility for the situation on the inefficient management of the lagoon.
The president of the fishing cooperative of the municipality, Pier Luigi Piro, said that the lagoon ecosystem needs significant investment to clean the channels and restore the water exchange between the lagoon and the Tyrrhenian Sea. He expressed hope that cooperation between the City Hall and entrepreneurs will begin as soon as possible in order to quickly overcome the consequences of the crisis.
