Divided Italy: Overcast conditions prevail in the northern and central regions, while the south experiences heat; potential for thunderstorms and powerful winds emerges
In the commune of Enna, Sicily, hopes of finding Matteo Ciurca (40) alive faded last evening, as his body was discovered this morning in the Crisa river. The river, swollen by heavy rain, had swept away two cars in the Noci area of Leonforte just yesterday.
The search for Ciurca began immediately after the incident, with no trace of the occupant of the second car found. However, late last evening, Ciurca's phone was discovered, leading to the recovery of his body just after 9:15 this morning, downstream from where the car was swept away.
The body was carried by the strong currents for over 2 kilometers before getting stuck in the vegetation.
The past few weeks have seen a heatwave decreasing from the North, with a drop in temperatures expected. Unfortunately, this respite was short-lived as locally, strong-intensity storms, hailstorms of small to medium size, and violent gusts of wind hit the region between the Appennino and the Lower Plain.
Attention should be paid to the risk of flash floods in Tuscany, Emilia, Lombardy, and North-East at night. The Lambro river, especially in Via Feltre, has exceeded 2.40 meters, posing a flood risk. The bad weather alert has been activated in Milan, involving closed parks and at-risk torrents.
In a positive note, the firefighters managed to rescue the two occupants of one car who had managed to climb onto the roof of the vehicle. However, the orange alert for flooding of rivers in certain provinces of Emilia-Romagna and Northern Italy will continue for the next few days.
The bad weather in Sicily, which contributed to the tragedy, has caused ongoing rescue operations in the affected areas. The Ceas community has been ordered to evacuate due to the flood risk. Less intense rain is expected on the Seveso basin, where the reservoir has not yet been activated.
Mobile barriers on Via Vittorini have been activated at Ponte Lambro.
The commune of Enna has been affected by heavy rain and flooding in recent days, a stark reminder of the unpredictable and sometimes devastating power of nature. Our thoughts are with Matteo Ciurca's family and friends during this difficult time.
New storm passages are expected today, involving the entire Lombardy region, with a particular focus on the Appennino and the Plain. It is crucial for everyone to stay vigilant and follow safety instructions during these challenging weather conditions.
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