State of emergency declared in southern regions of Italy, strong storm caused damage exceeding one billion euros

(Patria) - The Italian government yesterday declared a state of emergency for the southern regions affected by a strong storm last week, promising swift financial aid for the reconstruction of roads and businesses hit by severe weather conditions.

Relentless rain, strong winds, and waves up to nine meters high battered Sicily, Sardinia, and Calabria for two days. Authorities estimated the damage to be over one billion euros, but there were no reported human casualties.

- The government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has allocated an initial 100 million euros to address the immediate needs of the hardest-hit areas - said Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci.

Sicily alone suffered damage of around 740 million euros, but the island's governor, Renato Schifani, warned that the final amount could be double that.

Landslides now threaten the town of Niscemi in central Sicily, and about a thousand people had to be evacuated from their homes, the civil protection reported.

Sardinia was also severely affected. Beniamino Garau, the mayor of Capoterra in the south of the island, said the sea had moved about a hundred meters inland.

In Calabria, the regional administration stated that the storm caused "extensive damage to agricultural businesses, with serious consequences for the rural economy".

Local residents said that civil protection warnings convinced people to stay at home, which prevented fatalities or serious injuries.