(ANSA) - Rome, December 4 - 2017 has been the dryest year in Italy since 1800, the National research Council (CNR) said Monday. It said rains have been more than 30% under the average of the 1971-200 reference period, "branding this year as the dryest from 1800 to today". Several Italian regions have declared drought emergencies this year and have rationed water.

Some sources of the River Po have dried up and historic glaciers are now a fraction of what they once were. The drought has wreaked countless millions of damage on agriculture.

