Flood chaos in Sicily: Record rainfall triggers mudslides
A flood has struck Sicily, Italy, following exceptionally intense rainfall. Meteorologists note that the island received more rainfall in just four hours than it typically accumulates in a month. The situation is dire in many areas.
Within this short period, Sicily experienced over 150 millimetres of rain, which overwhelmed the drainage system. Local authorities have acknowledged that this is an "event of exceptional scale."
Firefighters evacuated residents stranded on flooded streets, and the water swept cars away, including in the Messina region. On Sunday, the island faced the equivalent of a month's rainfall in just four hours.
Mudslides, people trapped in homes
The intense rainfall caused mudslides, and torrential flows carried away vehicles parked near water streams. Firefighters carried out over 100 operations, using pontoon boats, among other methods, to rescue people trapped in their homes.
The civil defence reported that injuries were avoided in the affected areas thanks to early meteorological warnings. Adverse weather also impacted Calabria, in the south of the Italian peninsula, where the mayor of Catanzaro, Nicola Fiorita, urged residents to remain indoors.
