Naviglio Grande diesel spill triggers environmental investigation

The Milan Prosecutor's Office has opened an investigation into a significant hydrocarbon spill in the Naviglio Grande canal, which stretched approximately 28 kilometers from Magenta to the Darsena area in Milan. Authorities are investigating whether the discharge of diesel was an accident or a deliberate act of pollution.

The environmental emergency began on September 4 near Pontevecchio in Magenta, where oily substances were detected during scheduled maintenance on the sewage network. The pollutants traveled downstream, prompting the deployment of fire brigades, civil protection, and environmental agencies. Containment efforts included the use of absorbent booms in several municipalities, such as Robecco sul Naviglio and Gaggiano, to limit the spread.

The spill has caused notable ecological damage, particularly within the Ticino Park, affecting biodiversity and fish populations. Rescuers also treated wildlife, including a swan contaminated by the oil. As a precaution, irrigation channels feeding the Parco Agricolo Sud Milano were closed, and fishing and navigation activities were suspended in the affected areas.