Italian firefighters on Tuesday
battled deadly and devastating storms in the north of the
country and rampant and fatal wildfires in parts of the south.
Five people were killed, one in the north and four in the south,
many injured, and incalculable damage caused by the phenomena
linked to the climate crisis.
In Milan, the iconic Castello Sforzesco was damaged and parks
were closed as gales of up to 110 kph hit the Lombardy capital.
Fire services reported a "very difficult situation" in and
around Milan after a fresh bout of extreme bad weather bought
gales, hail storms and heavy rainfall to the area around the
Lombardy capital.
The fire brigade said they had been making "non-stop
interventions for several days", with the situation exacerbated
by Monday night's storm.
On Tuesday morning the emergency service said it had received
over 200 requests for help throughout the metropolitan area
since 4 am due to fallen trees, flooding, and damage to homes.
Elsewhere in the northern Lombardy region a 16-year-old girl was
killed by a falling tree while sleeping in a tent during a scout
camp in Cedegolo, near Brescia.
"You will always remain in our hearts, we are devastated," said
the scout group of the girl, named as Chiara.
The situation was also reported to be critical in the other
northern regions of Trentino Alto Adige, Friuli Venezia Giulia
and Veneto, where a 16-year-old boy was hurt by a falling branch
in Zimella and seven people were taken to hospital with injuries
following a heavy hailstorm.
"The hail destroyed roofs, cars, industrial and craftsmen's
facilities," said Veneto Governor Luca Zaia.
"In the countryside it has wiped out crops, vineyards, orchards
and greenhouses. Railway services have been suspended between
Brescia and Padua," he added, thanking emergency responders and
calling for economic support for the affected areas.
Italy remained divided in two with extreme heat still gripping
southern and central regions and thunderstorms, gales and hail
in the north.
In the south, Palermo's Falcone Borsellino airport reopened to
departing flights, the operator Gesap said. Incoming flights
remain suspended due to a strong Sirocco southerly wind.
The situation is being monitored.
The airport was closed overnight after wildfires in the hills
around the Sicilian capital reached the perimeter fence.
Palermo's hospital pavilion was evacuated due to a nearby
hillside wildfire.
The fire brigade evacuated pavilion B of Palermo's Cervello
hospital, located at contrada Inserra, the hill on the outskirts
of the Sicilian capital that had been burning for hours.
The air in the area was unbreathable, local sources said.
Firefighters were also engaged in operations to extinguish the
fires threatening the hospital.
An 88-year-old woman died of heat exhaustion and smoke
inhalation at San Martino delle Scale near Palermo after fire
fighters were unable to reach her flat due to the flames.
A 98-year-old man also died in the Calabrian village of Cardeto
due to the fires that are affecting the hilly area near Reggio
Calabria.
The man fell victim to the flames while his daughter and
son-in-law were slightly injured but were saved. The victim, who
was bedridden, died from the flames that reached the countryside
house where he lived.
Two charred bodies were found near Palermo, victims of a huge
wildfire that is raging near the Sicilian capital.
The bodies were found in a rundown shack in Cinisi not far from
the airport.
They were hard to identify, bu later named as Salvatore Cometa,
78, and Teresa Monastero, 76.
They were said to have been squatting in the hovel.
Police and firefighters said they are victims of the fire that
has been devouring the area for hours.
They were found in Fondo Orsa inside a house in very poor
condition that had gone up in flames.
The Palermo provincial health authority (ASP), meanwhile, told
locals not to go out amid the sweltering heat and wildfires.
The ASP said it recommended avoiding prolonged outdoor exposure
"except in cases that are strictly necessary.
"The high temperatures," said the ASP, "together with the
presence of smoke generated by the numerous fires, could lead to
the onset of cardio-circulatory and respiratory disorders in the
exposed population, with particular regard to the weakest
people."
Also in Sicily, five homes threatened by a wildfire were
evacuated near Messina in the northeastern tip of the island.
The five residences, surrounded by flames, were evacuated in a
hamlet of Santo Stefano di Camastra.
The order was given by the mayor, Francesco Re, who urged the
intervention of firefighting teams.
The flames developed between the hamlet of Canneto di Caronia
and the Tudisca district of Santo Stefano di Camastra. Since the
fire was not completely extinguished, five families had to leave
their homes.
A large wildfire neared Catania, where the aiport was closed due
to a recent fire,and the local mayor called for the intervention
of Canadair water-dumping planes.
The mayor of Aci Catena, Margherita Ferro, asked for help on
social media for the fire that had been raging for hours in the
hamlet of San Nicolò that involved cars, trees and homes.
On the Facebook page of the Municipality she spoke of a
"dramatic situation" and asked for help also urging "the
intervention of helicopters and Canadair" and called on citizens
to stay at home.
Some 2,000 people were evacuated from three hotels at Vieste in
Puglia due to another menacing wildfire.
The guests of the three large accommodation facilities in Vieste
were evacuated due to the vast fire that broke out in Baia San
Felice in Vieste.
Tourists are leaving the facilities Residence Gattarella, Hotel
Portonovo and Hotel Gargano to go to a gym in the center of
Vieste, set up by the municipality so that they can spend the
night there "in case they can not return to the structures",
said Vieste Mayor Giuseppe Nobiletti.
The situation is said to be complex because the flames are fed
by the strong wind.
Some Canadairs are also in action.
On the ground, Carabinieri forest guards, firefighters and civil
protection workers are working.
Local police officers were also on site to divert traffic.
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