At least six people were killed as a result of sweltering heat in the southern regions of Italy at a time when the north of the country is also being hammered by deadly storms, CNN reported citing the local authorities.
In the early hours of Tuesday morning, violent storms battered northern Italy, and fallen trees killed two people. Whereas wildfires on the southern island of Sicily and in the coastal city of Reggio Calabria resulted in the deaths of four elderly people.
Italy is especially vulnerable since it is situated in the Mediterranean, a region that is experiencing rapid climate change.
After storms caused extensive damage in the area, the fire department in Italy reported that they responded to 400 emergency calls for shattered windows, roof damage, water, and fallen trees, according to CNN.
Tornadoes, powerful winds, and other severe weather have recently wreaked havoc in northern Italy. One hundred people were hurt last week when tennis ball-sized hail fell in the Veneto areas.
According to the Italian fire service, more than 40 fires broke out across Sicily on Monday night, including one at the Bellolampo landfill that released toxic vapours.
Several homes have been damaged, and more than 1,500 people have been evacuated from the impacted area.
Causes of the Disasters
The most common cause responsible for these disasters is attributed to “Climate Change.” Italy, located at the climate change hotspot of the Mediterranean and surrounded by warming seas make, it highly vulnerable to such weather and events.
According to Italian meteorologist, Giulio Betti said, “The northern regions which were right and in the middle of fresh Atlantic Air and intensely hot African Air became a perfect breeding ground for various storms. The scientist calls the wildfire and the storms “two sides of the same coin”
The wildfires, on the other hand, occurred in extremely high temperatures baking Italy in recent weeks and showed no signs of restriction. Officials have placed 16 cities on red alert due to high temperatures, such as Sicily (115 degrees Fahrenheit), and on July 24, 2023, the temperature rose to a record-breaking (119 degrees Fahrenheit).
Destruction caused by the Tornado
Overnight, the regions of Lombardy and Veneto experienced torrential rainfall and extremely strong winds, which reached 100km per hour in Milan. On July 25, 2023, the local authorities told residents to stay away from public parks, as there is a high risk that branches would snap off trees.
A 16-year-old Girl was killed when a giant tree fell on her tent where she was sleeping at a summer camp near the city of Brescia, while a middle-aged woman died after being hit by a fallen tree in Lissone, north of Milan. One of the city’s main attractions, the 15th-Century Sforza Castle, was closed to the public on Tuesday “due to damage caused by severe weather”.
The farming community in North Italy complained that the gale, tornado and high-speed windstorms also destroyed many crops. Other critical infrastructures, such as automobiles and street lights, were subject to the heavy destruction caused by the strong winds.
Damage caused by the Wildfire
On July 25, 2023, the Palmero Airport was temporarily closed to air traffic after the wildfires in the hills around it reached the airport perimeter. One firefighter was also killed after suffering a stroke caused by the heatwaves. Another one died in Sardinia.
More than 200 people in Palermo have already sought medical attention for smoke inhalation. Two hospitals have suspended routine appointments to ensure that people suffering from smoke inhalation or other illnesses related to the extreme heat can be looked after.
Half of the bus network in Palermo City has been suspended as the vehicles are overheating and cannot cool down because of consistently high temperatures. The Italian government has declared a state of emergency in several regions of the country amid such disastrous weather.
