Agrigento Residents Show Resilience Amid Severe Drought

Agrigento, a region in southern Sicily, is facing one of its worst droughts in over two decades, yet residents are demonstrating remarkable resilience. Utilizing cisterns and tanker deliveries, locals have adapted to water scarcity, ensuring that businesses, hotels, and households continue to function without significant disruption. Salvatore Cocina, head of local civil protection, emphasized the community's ability to cope with water shortages, stating, “Nobody can cope with water shortage better than southern Sicilians.” Despite the challenges, tourists report minimal impact on their experiences, with many hotels maintaining their own water reserves. The Valley of Temples, a major archaeological site that attracted over a million visitors last year, has been prioritized for water supply, further illustrating the region's commitment to preserving its tourism industry. However, the situation remains critical, as the civil protection department has reported that 2024 has seen the lowest rainfall in two decades. In response, the national government declared a state of emergency in May, allocating €20 million to procure water tankers and develop new wells. Settimio Cantone, president of AICA, described the drought emergency as a “wakeup call,” highlighting the urgent need for sustainable water management. Experts, including Giulio Boccaletti from the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change, have labeled the region a “climate change hotspot,” underscoring the vulnerability of both human society and local ecosystems to ongoing environmental changes. As the community navigates these challenges, their resourcefulness and adaptability remain key to survival.