At least one person has died after being swept away by floods in a popular British holiday destination after the extreme weather forced people to scramble to safety to evade the raging river
A tragic incident has occurred in a beloved British holiday hotspot, with at least one person losing their life after being swept away by floodwaters.
Matteo Ciurca, 40, was reportedly on his way to feed local dogs in Leonforte, located on the island of Sicily, when he was tragically caught up and carried to his death by the Crisa River on Wednesday. The town’s mayor, Piero Livolsi, attributed his untimely demise to a “water bomb” that tore through the region.
The lethal floods also compelled individuals to scramble out of their car windows and clamber onto the safety of the roof to evade the raging river.
The severe weather is wreaking havoc on the Italian island, with relentless rainfall causing bridges to collapse.
In Randazzo, one of the hardest-hit areas, vehicles were submerged under floodwaters. Meanwhile, the nearby San Giuliano bridge partially collapsed, leaving numerous vehicles stranded, reports the Mirror.
The town, situated near Mount Etna, saw many of its 8,000 inhabitants experiencing delayed access to emergency services, transport, and schools. Anas, the organisation responsible for managing Italy’s road network, stated that the “huge mass of water, which affected state and local roads, caused for the detachment of the valley parapet from the supporting structure of the bridge.”
Several other regions in Italy are also grappling with extreme weather conditions. In Venice, the municipalities of Spinea, Mirano, Mestre, and Marghera have been inundated by floods, with numerous underpasses filled with water.
Meanwhile, Sardinia experienced a massive hailstorm, with some hailstones measuring up to 6cm, causing water to surge through residential areas in Pimentel, a quaint commune on the picturesque island. Riccione, located on the Riviera Romagnola in north-west Italy, was also hit by sudden and intense storms.
In southern Milan, water levels surged past 40cm, prompting firefighters to intervene to clear basements and fortify low-lying homes to prevent severe water damage.
At the beginning of August, holidaymakers were seen fleeing from a tornado on a beach in Rome. The twister was captured on film as it ripped umbrellas from the sands of Maccarese and sent them hurtling across the beach.
Parasols and sand were seen spiralling into the sky, above the heads of those scrambling to escape the beach. However, a few courageous tourists remained, watching as their towels were swept up by the winds.
Local media reported at the time that one woman sustained minor injuries and required medical attention. A separate video, filmed by a boat captain, showed enormous waterspouts forming off the coast of Delta del Po – thousands of miles away on the country’s eastern coast, where the Italian capital is situated.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.
#Man #feeding #stray #dogs #dies #water #bomb #hits #popular #Brit #holiday #hotspot
