Scientists warn that the climate crisis is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events such as heat waves, droughts, downpours and floods in Europe and around the world.
A wave of violent stormshas hit northern Italyflooding the financial center of Milan and raising fears for the lives of a man who was dragged by a tractor in the Piedmont region.
Some images from the ‘RAI’ showed the wheel of the vehicle still visible in the Orco stream, near Turin, where the tractor overturned in muddy waters.
Local rescuers said they were searching for the missing 58-year-old man.
Another river overflowed in Val di Susain Piedmont, collapsing two bridgesblocking a provincial highway and isolating about 50 people in two towns.
Two other northern regions, Lombardy y Venetowere affected by widespread floodingwhich caused damage and disruption in the city of Milan, where the Seveso and Lambro rivers overflowed.
Milan Firefighters responded to dozens of calls to rescue people trapped in their cars in flooded underpasses and to drain basements full of water. Some metro services had to be suspended due to flooding.
For the first time since its founding in 1976, the ‘Radio Popolare’ station in Milan stopped broadcasting because its broadcast center was flooded with water.
Climate change leads to extreme events
Scientists warn that The climate crisis is increasing the frequency of extreme weather eventslike heat waves droughtsstorms and floods, in Europe and around the world. They say storms are getting stronger because hot air can hold more moisture.
Southern Italy has recently suffered a serious drought which has caused enormous problems for local agriculture and tourism, especially on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia.
Additional sources • Enrique Barrueco (Voice-over)
