Authorities try to determine why Venice canal turned green

The waters in Venice’s main canal have turned fluorescent green in the area near Italy’s renowned Rialto Bridge, as authorities seek to determine the cause.

Italy’s fire department posted a video on Sunday as one of its boats sailed on phosphorescent waters. “The Grand Canal coloured in green is what the fire department found this morning as we intervened together with ARPAV to collect samples and analyse this abnormal colour,” it said.

 ARPAV, Veneto’s regional environmental protection agency, said it received samples of the altered waters and was working to identify the substance that changed their colour.

The Venice prefect has called an emergency meeting of police forces to understand what happened and study possible countermeasures, the ANSA news agency reported.