Sicily floods: rescues and evacuations amid relentless rain
Local media reported on Wednesday that a serious flood situation prevails in Sicily following intense rainfall. In numerous areas, streets have transformed into raging rivers, carrying away cars. The fire department is aiding drivers and passengers stranded in their vehicles.
The most challenging situation is in the towns of Torre Archirafi, Acireale, and Altarello in the province of Catania. The disaster has also impacted Syracuse, necessitating the evacuation of residents from some homes.
Firefighters in amphibious vehicles assist in the evacuation
Rescue teams, including firefighters in amphibious vehicles, assist with challenging conditions amid persistent rain. Civil Defence volunteers also participated in the operation.
Before dawn, a section of the Messina-Catania motorway was flooded.
Over 100 interventions
Extreme rainfall has also led to flooding in other parts of Sicily. Italian services have intervened more than 100 times in the last 24 hours. The downpours have paralyzed roads and turned them into rushing streams.
The Regional Civil Protection Inspectorate has declared a second-level alert in effect in the eastern parts of Sicily. Local authorities are urging residents to exercise extreme caution and limit movement.
It is worth noting that Sicily has not yet recovered from the previous flood that affected the island just under a month ago. At that time, streets and city squares in Catania were also flooded. There were fatalities.
