At the beginning of the week, rain pelted the earth in Sicily and caused destruction. A man was killed. It is to be feared that there will be more storms.
Catania – After the heavy rainfall and floods at the beginning of the week, southern Italy is preparing for further and possibly even heavier storms. That said the national civil protection chief Fabrizio Curcio on Wednesday after a crisis discussion with the local authorities in Catania.
The city in Sicily was flooded on Tuesday after intense rainfall, entire streets and squares were sometimes a meter under water. A man died because he was pushed under his car by the masses of water.
“It’s not over yet,” warned Curcio, according to the Ansa news agency. After a short period of rest, there should be a significant deterioration in the weather on Thursday or Friday, he said. It is feared that a so-called Medicane will develop, a cyclone in the Mediterranean (English: Mediterranean Hurricane). This is already brewing between southern Italy and Malta. Catania’s Mayor Salvo Pogliese ordered schools and non-essential shops to be closed on the two days.
President Sergio Mattarella, Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese expressed their condolences to those affected by the severe storms and floods and thanked the rescue workers. In the province of Catania at the foot of the Etna volcano, the fire brigade was deployed for almost 200 missions within 24 hours. dpa
