Spanish
The storm Harry has caused severe flooding in southern Italy, in a strong storm that has caused havoc and damage estimated initially at more than 500 million euros in Sicily alone, according to local authorities this Thursday.
The storm, characterized by torrential rains and winds of over 120 kilometers per hour, has caused floods, evacuations of hundreds of families, and the suspension of school activities, although no fatalities have been reported. "There has been both foresight and prevention, because it was a very relevant phenomenon, with a great impact on the territories, which had been predicted by the meteorological alert systems, which (...) allowed preparation," said the head of the National Civil Protection Department, Fabio Ciciliano, in statements collected by local media.You can also read: Hidden cameras and microphones found in the National Congress of Honduras
The Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Matteo Salvini, announced on Wednesday that he has requested the declaration of a state of emergency for the three regions most affected by the bad weather, Sicily, Sardinia and Calabria. Sicily is one of the hardest-hit regions, with material damage estimated at up to 500 million euros, according to the authorities, and with numerous destroyed roads and serious damage to the railway network. In particular, the east of the island and cities like Catania and Syracuse have suffered the invasion of the sea in coastal areas, which has caused significant damage to infrastructure and has forced the evacuation of dozens of people from homes located at sea level. In addition to disruptions in educational and transportation services, some locations have reported impacts on public services and logistics, while operations continue to restore normalcy as soon as weather conditions allow. In Sardinia, the Civil Protection has recorded historic rainfall accumulations that have caused the overflowing of torrents in the province of Cagliari. While in the southern region of Calabria, more than 570 mm of rain was recorded in just over 48 hours, a volume of precipitation that Civil Protection described as a "centennial event". As a safety measure, numerous municipalities have closed public spaces, while local governments have reinforced restrictions in the face of persistent risk. Although a slight improvement is expected on Thursday, Italian meteorological authorities have urged the population to stay informed about updated forecasts and to follow the recommendations of Civil Protection to reduce the risks associated with the storm. In addition, rainfall is expected over the weekend in Italy.
