Cyclone Harry hit southern Italy on Wednesday (21) and caused the displacement of dozens of families in province of Cataniain Sicily. The phenomenon caused flooding and increased the risk of rivers overflowing in several coastal areas of the region.
Local authorities reported that the sea's violence was the most intense recorded in the last 60 years. The storm in the Mediterranean featured winds of up to 150 kilometers per hour and waves that reached 10 meters in height.
In the province of Messina, a wave struck the mayors of Taormina, Cateno De Luca, and Santa Teresa di Riva, Danilo Lo Giudice. The incident occurred while the politicians were conducting a live broadcast on a social network to report on weather conditions.
The mayor of Catania, Enrico Trantino, highlighted that the intensity of the sea confronted the force of nature with the fragility of the land. According to the mayor, there are no records of a similar event in the city's recent memory.
Impacts on infrastructure
Images shared on social media show the force of the waves on Tuesday night (20). The most affected areas were Viale Kennedy, in La Plaia, as well as Ruggero di Lauria and Artale Alagona, in Ognina, and the village of San Giovanni Li.
The force of the waters swept away protective barriers, debris, and large quantities of sand onto the public roads of Catania. The receding tide on the Sicilian coast only began to be observed around 3 a.m. this Wednesday.
Situation of the affected regions
Despite the material damage, the weather phenomenon has not caused any casualties or injuries so far. In Plaia, the Simeto River reached its peak level, forcing the preventive evacuation of residents from at-risk areas.
In addition to Sicily, Cyclone Harry also hit the regions of Calabria and Sardinia. The local government is monitoring coastal areas, but no injuries have been reported in those locations.
