Venice canal mysteriously turns fluorescent green

Venetian local authorities are investigating a mysterious fluorescent green patch that appeared in the Venice canal on Sunday.

The authorities have collected a sample of the water around the Rialto Bridge to figure out the reason behind the change in the water colour while also examining CCTV.

“Early analysis indicated that the green patch was likely caused by the release of fluorescein, a harmless dye commonly used to track the flow of water,” said Maurizio Vesco of the Regional Agency for Environmental Protection.

It’s difficult to believe that there was some sort of accident and that a kilogramme of fluorescein was accidentally spilled into the canal, Vesco added.

Social media users have been comparing the mysterious incident to a stunt by Argentine artist Nicolás García Uriburu in 1968, where the artist dyed the waters of the Grand Canal green to raise awareness of ecological issues.