Italy is experiencing extreme weather events with wildfires in the south and violent storms in the north, resulting in the deaths of seven people within 24 hours.
In Sicily, temperatures reached a scorching 47°C, leading to wildfires and temporary closure of Palermo airport. Three people died in a house hit by a wildfire, and an 88-year-old woman couldn’t be reached by emergency services due to the fires. More than 55 wildfires were reported on the island, prompting evacuations and medical emergencies from smoke inhalation.
In the northern region of Lombardy, violent storms caused significant damage, and four people lost their lives, including a 16-year-old girl killed by a falling tree during a camping trip.
The extreme weather also disrupted transportation, felling trees and blocking the metro and railways in Milan.
The Sicilian city of Catania faced temperatures close to 47°C, leading to power cuts and water supply issues. Photos showed wildfires threatening the ancient archaeological site of Segesta.
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The extreme heat has caused deaths in other regions of Italy within the last two weeks.
Sicily is facing an unprecedented catastrophe with incalculable environmental damage due to the wildfires, as stated by the farmers’ association Coldiretti. Meanwhile, the northern regions are experiencing torrential rain and gales from cooler air coming from northern Europe.
The situation has prompted the governor of Sicily to request a state of emergency declaration from the central government in Rome. The extreme weather conditions have caused widespread damage, disruptions in transportation, and immense challenges for the affected regions in Italy.
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Source: @cosminontheroad, @humenintelligence TikTok