Police investigate as Venice canal mysteriously turns fluorescent green

Local have been stunned after a canal in Venice has turned fluorescent green, prompting police to launch an investigation.

A patch of water in the city’s iconic Grand Canal turned neon on Sunday (28 May), with the bright green liquid spreading out from the Rialto Bridge.

While many have speculated this could be the work of climate change activists, no one has yet to claim responsibility for the bizarre incident.

TikTok/@bigmikeinthemountians

Residents first spotted the strange hue on Sunday, with several photos of gondoliers gliding through the highlighter green water appearing online.

It opened an investigation by police, who suspect that climate activists could be to blame as a similar incident happened in the past.

In fact, artist Nicolás Garcia Uriburu dyed the canal waters a very similar shade during the 34th Venice Biennale to raise awareness of environmental issues back in 1968.

There have also been more recent environmental protests in the country, with a group gathering in Rome on 21 May.

During the campaign, seven activists from the Ultima Generazione (Last Generation) turned the Trevi fountain black as they poured diluted charcoal into water.

They also held banners which read: “We won’t pay for fossil [fuels].”

Despite their earlier protest, the group has not claimed responsibility for Venice’s new hue.

Prisma by Dukas Presseagentur GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo

The authorities have even enlisted the Italian fire service to help with their enquiries, as they take samples of the water for testing.

Veneto region president Luca Zaia has also spoken about the incident and has said that they are eager to know who is responsible for the incident.

In a tweet, he reassured the public: “The prefect has called an urgent meeting with the police to investigate the origin of the liquid.”

Meanwhile, tourists have been flooding social media with videos of the newly green water.

One visitor has even shared a clip on TikTok and joked that it looked like something from a comic book.

They wrote in the caption: "What kind of superpower would I get if I jumped in there?"

In the comments, one viewer expressed their shock writing: "I was just there two days ago and it wasn’t green."

Here's hoping that the shade settles down.

Topics: Environment, Travel, World News, Weird

Katherine Sidnell

Katherine is an entertainment journalist with a love of all things nerdy. Starting out writing Doctor Who fan fiction as a kid, she has gone on to interview the likes of Matt Damon, James May and Dua Lipa to name a few. Published in The Sun, The Daily Mail and Evening Standard - she now joins Ladbible as resident nerd in chief.

@ksidnell