Severe Storm Disrupts Daily Life in Italy and Malta

A powerful storm sweeping across the Mediterranean has significantly disrupted daily life in Italy and Malta, causing material damage, injuries, and widespread interruptions to transportation, education, and maritime activity.

According to reports from the Italian news agency ANSA, strong winds and heavy rainfall affected southern regions of Italy, including Calabria, as well as the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. The severe weather led to infrastructure damage and multiple emergency incidents.

Operations at the major port of Gioia Tauro in Calabria were suspended as of last night due to dangerous storm conditions, with all ship arrivals and departures temporarily halted.

In the town of San Mauro Marchesato, located in the province of Crotone, intense rainfall triggered a landslide that caused part of a cemetery to collapse, exposing several coffins.

Storm conditions also impacted northeastern Sicily. In the city of Messina, coastal roads were closed to traffic. Despite the restrictions, an elderly driver entered one of the closed roads and fell into a hole formed by storm damage. Emergency teams later rescued the individual.

In Catania, on Sicily’s eastern coast, a fishing boat sank in the harbor after being battered by strong waves. Meanwhile, ferry services to the Aeolian Islands north of Sicily were suspended due to rough seas.

On the island of Sardinia, high winds caused a tree to fall onto a moving vehicle in the town of Tortolì, injuring two people inside the car. In the capital city of Cagliari, wind speeds reached up to 62 miles per hour. Large waves driven by the wind flooded beaches and nearby roads, forcing authorities to close several coastal streets as a precaution.

Schools in both Calabria and Sicily remained closed for a second consecutive day as the storm continued.

Italy’s Civil Protection Agency issued a red alert for southern coastal areas of Calabria, the eastern coast of Sicily, and eastern Sardinia, while orange alerts were declared for other regions. Residents, particularly those living near the coast, were warned about the risk of flooding, strong winds, and high waves.

Malta Also Hit Hard

The storm, locally referred to as “Storm Harry,” also impacted Malta, where it caused similar disruptions.

According to the Times of Malta, strong winds toppled trees and billboards across the island and damaged several buildings. Coastal areas such as Marsascala, Sliema, and Birżebbuġa were among the hardest hit, prompting local authorities to urge residents to remain indoors.

Malta’s Meteorological Office stated that weather conditions are expected to gradually improve later this evening, with the storm slowly losing strength.