Musumeci said the state of emergency would last 12 months and could be extended for an additional 12 months.
Storm Harry Hits Sicily: Coastal Towns Flooded by Waves
Powerful Storm Harry, formed over the Mediterranean Sea by a deep low-pressure system, brought intense rainfall and very strong winds.
Huge waves slammed into the coast of Sicily, Italy, flooding several coastal… pic.twitter.com/FPhlI0miKk
— Global Crisis (@_GlobalCrisis_) January 26, 2026
A wave of strong winds, torrential rains and storm surges caused about 1.5 billion euros of damage to infrastructure, roads, business premises, hotels and bars, houses in Sicily alone, governor Renato Schifani told reporters before the cabinet meeting.
– It was an extraordinary event, an event that brought to its knees one of the best tourist and catering areas of Sicily, the Taormina area – said Schifani.
– So, we are also afraid of the collapse of tourist facilities in the area that was the driving force behind Sicily’s tourism and hospitality GDP – he added.
Scientists say the climate crisis caused by human-caused greenhouse gas emissions is making extreme weather events like heat waves, droughts, storms and floods more frequent and intense. Although there are many sources of greenhouse gases that cause global warming, the main driver is the burning of fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal, the sale of which generates huge profits for the world’s energy giants.
(Vijesti.ba / FENA)
