Italy records near-sixfold increase in extreme weather events over ten-year period
Italy experienced 351 extreme weather events in 2024 – nearly six times the figure recorded in 2015 (60), a report from Italian environmental group Legambiente said on Monday.
Northern Italy was the worst-hit area in 2024, with 198 extreme weather events, followed by the south (92) and centre of the country (61).
At a regional level, Emilia Romagna was the region with the highest number of extreme events, with 52. It was followed by Lombardy (49), Sicily (43), Veneto (41) and Piedmont (22).
Of the 351 extreme weather events registered in 2024, 134 were flooding incidents caused by heavy rainfall – up from 118 in 2023.
Prolonged droughts also saw a significant year-on-year increase: from 22 in 2023 to 34 in 2024.
Legambiente president Stefano Ciafani expressed concern over the latest findings.
“Italy was overwhelmed by another wave of extreme weather events in 2024 and once again found itself unprepared,” he said.
According to the Legambiente report, 22 of the extreme weather events experienced in 2024 caused serious damage to rail and local public transport networks.
“We hope that in 2025 the government will demonstrate greater responsibility in addressing the climate crisis, with increased financial resources and concrete actions focused on prevention, mitigation, and adaptation,” Ciafani added.
In December 2023 Italy’s Environment Ministry approved a plan (National Climate Change Adaptation Plan, or PNACC) for the implementation of measures enhancing resilience and reducing risks connected with climate change.
The plan came into force in February 2024.
German tourist dead in Sicily after suspected carbon monoxide poisoning
A German tourist died at a holiday rental property in Sicily in a suspected carbon monoxide poisoning incident, with three others recovering in hospital, Italy’s fire department said on Monday, according to AFP.
The 36-year-old male tourist was found dead at a property in the Sicilian city of Cefalu, east of Palermo, for "presumed carbon monoxide poisoning", Fire Inspector Mario Di Leonardo told AFP.
Three others, also German tourists, were transported by ambulance to the local hospital, he said.
An investigation into the exact causes of the incident was underway, Di Leonardo said.
Smoke emitted by a faulty chimney could have been responsible for the poisoning, the Italian fire service said, according to Italian news agency Ansa.
Iran confirms arrest of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala
Iran confirmed on Monday that it had arrested Italian journalist Cecilia Sala for "violating the law" – a move that has been decried by Italy as "unacceptable", according to AFP.
"Cecilia Sala, an Italian citizen, travelled to Iran on December 13, 2024 with a journalist's visa and was arrested on December 19, 2024 for violating the law of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the official IRNA news agency said, citing a statement by the culture ministry.
"Her case is currently under investigation," added the ministry, which oversees and accredits foreign journalists in Iran.
Sala last posted on X on December 17th with a link to a podcast entitled 'A conversation on patriarchy in Tehran'.
Chora Media, an Italian podcast publisher for which Sala worked, said she had travelled from Rome to Iran on a journalist visa, and was due to return on December 20th.
On Friday, Italy denounced Sala's arrest as "unacceptable".
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Saturday that efforts to free Sala were "complicated".
Iran's culture ministry confirmed on Monday that Sala had been allowed consular assistance and that she "has been in contact with her family by phone".
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