Catania: Two dead as rare storm floods streets of Sicilian city
Flooding triggered by a powerful storm has overwhelmed the
Sicilian city of Catania, killing at least two people.
Fierce storms battered southern Italy for a third day on Tuesday, leaving roads completely submerged in parts of the island of Sicily ; water gushing through the streets as floods engulfed the city.
Forecasters say eastern Sicily is being hit by a rare
Mediterranean hurricane, known as a Medicane.
Italy's Department for Civil Protection issued its most
severe weather warning for parts of Sicily and neighbouring Calabria on
Tuesday.
The agency warned of potential risk to life and damage to
property from heavy rain, thunderstorms and gale force winds in those areas.
Scientists say climate change caused by human activity is
making extreme weather events more frequent and intense.
The mayor of Catania, Salvo Pogliese, said eastern parts of
Sicily were experiencing exceptional weather events "unprecedented"
in their intensity.
Citing the "seriousness of the situation", the
mayor ordered the closure of all businesses in Catania except essential
services until midnight on Tuesday.
"I urge the entire population to not leave home except
for emergency reasons, because roads are overrun by water," the mayor
posted on Facebook.
Italian media reported the death of a 53-year-old man who
was found under a car after torrential rains swept through the town of Gravina,
north of Catania.
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