Italy is facing the devastating impact of extreme weather, with wildfires sweeping through the southern region of Sicily and violent storms lashing the northern regions. The wildfires in Sicily have caused the temporary closure of Palermo airport due to scorching temperatures reaching 47°C. Tragically, seven people have lost their lives in the past 24 hours as a result of these natural disasters.
In Sicily, the wildfires claimed the lives of three people, including an 88-year-old woman who could not receive timely assistance due to the fires' disruptions. Meanwhile, in Lombardy, four people lost their lives, with a 16-year-old girl being killed by a falling tree during a camping trip in Cedelogo, a 58-year-old woman crushed by a tree in Monza, and a young couple dying in a car accident in Varese. The situation in Palermo is dire, with more than 55 wildfires reported on the island, and hundreds of firefighters from other regions are joining the battle to contain the flames. The extreme heat, reaching 47.6°C in some parts of southern Italy, has led to a surge in heat-related illnesses, overwhelming hospitals and prompting evacuations. The governor of Sicily has called for a state of emergency in the region.
In the north, Lombardy, Trentino Alto Adige, Veneto, and Friuli Venezia Giulia are facing torrential rain and gales as cooler air from northern Europe clashes with the extreme weather. The metro in Milan was blocked, and the region experienced widespread damage and breakdowns due to the stormy weather. These catastrophic events have sparked discussions about climate change and its role in supercharging extreme weather globally. Italy's civil protection minister, Nello Musumeci, emphasized the urgent need to address climate change and adapt infrastructure to the new climate reality. As the country mourns the lives lost and grapples with the widespread destruction, the focus is shifting towards implementing measures to mitigate the impact of such extreme weather events in the future.
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