Reviews of weather events and natural disasters around the world.
Unprecedented storms and downpours in Northern Italy have caused widespread flooding throughout the region. The cities of Padua and Vicenza were especially hard hit. Emergency services used inflatable boats to evacuate people, and floating cars could be seen on the streets. The governor of Veneto called this weather phenomenon a “water bomb.”
A red alert has been issued for the Veneto region, particularly between Vicenza and Verona, where ponds overflowed after 70mm (3in) of rain fell in just 30 minutes. In the Como area, one person is missing after a bridge collapsed.
In Milan, up to 130 mm (5 inches) of rain fell in one day, which was a record for May in the last 170 years.
In Lombardy, in Borgo Mantovano, strong winds overturned a freight train, gusts reaching 40–55 m/s.
Agricultural lands were heavily damaged by extreme weather. In many regions, fertile crop areas were flooded with water. The damage from the rampant disaster has yet to be assessed, but it is already obvious that it will be significant.
At the same time, southern Italy is suffering from a heatwave, with temperatures in Sicily reaching +35°C (+95°F). Sardinia is gripped by drought, which has already led to a significant reduction in the wheat harvest. Summer water restrictions are expected.
Professor Marco Marani from the University of Padua said extreme weather events are becoming more frequent due to global warming.
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#Italy
#flooding
