Severe storms and relentless rain have inundated northern Italy, causing widespread flooding in cities such as Padua and Vicenza.
The River Lambro’s overflow in Milan led to substantial water damage, with emergency services deploying dinghies to rescue trapped residents and cars floating through submerged streets.Luca Zaia, the governor of the Veneto region, likened the overnight deluge to a “water bomb.”
In stark contrast, southern Italy is grappling with an unseasonal heat wave, with temperatures soaring to 35°C in Sicily.Professor Marco Marani of the University of Padua, an expert on climate change, highlighted the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, attributing them to global warming. Early Friday, the Muson dei Sassi river in Padua burst its banks, causing severe flooding.
In Borgo Mantovano, Lombardy, powerful winds reaching 200 km/h (120 mph) overturned a freight train. Mayor Alberto Borsari reported extensive flooding of streets and basements, describing the situation as “really tough” but noting that no injuries occurred.Milan recorded an unprecedented 130mm (5 inches) of rain in a single day, leading to flash floods unseen in over 170 years.
The Veneto region has declared a state of red alert until 14:00 local time, particularly between Vicenza and Verona, where water basins are overflowing after 70mm of rain fell in just 30 minutes.
One person is missing in Como following the collapse of a small bridge.Meanwhile, Sardinia in the south faces severe drought, with wheat farmers predicting a halved harvest due to water shortages.
Water restrictions are expected later in the summer.Professor Marani emphasized the urgent need to revise flood defense calculations in light of the escalating risks posed by climate change.
The recent State of the Climate report by the EU climate agency Copernicus and the World Meteorological Organization underscored this necessity, revealing that one-third of European rivers exceeded the “high” flood threshold in 2023, with 16% surpassing the “severe” mark.”Climate change must be managed,” Marani asserted, stressing the critical need for proactive measures to address the escalating threat.
Source: BBC News
