The Latest on Extreme Weather in Italy
In July, central and southern regions of Italy experienced a concerning 7% increase in deaths compared to the normal rate, according to data from the country’s Health Ministry. This spike in mortality can be attributed to a heat wave that caused wildfires and severe storms. These changing weather patterns are a result of climate change, a global phenomenon affecting nations worldwide.
Record-breaking temperatures in some parts of Italy led to a higher number of deaths among individuals aged 75 and over during the month of July.
Key Facts
Data from the health ministry reveals that temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) resulted in more fatalities among individuals aged 75 and over in July, compared to the average death rate recorded from 2015 to 2019 during the same period.
Cities such as Bari, Catania, and Reggio Calabria faced the brunt of the extreme heat, experiencing elevated mortality rates, as reported by the health ministry.
However, cities in northern Italy, which had less exposure to the intense heat, observed a 14% decrease in mortality rates compared to the average death rate from 2015 to 2019 during the same period, according to the health ministry.
At present, firefighters in Sardinia are battling more than 50 wildfires, leading to the evacuation of approximately 600 people, as reported by EuroNews.
Big Number
During July, Sardinia experienced a scorching temperature of 118 degrees, breaking heat records for the city. Meanwhile, Rome reached 107 degrees, as reported by the New York Times.
Key Background
The summer heat has taken a toll on southern Europe, with countries like Italy, Greece, Croatia, Portugal, and Spain experiencing extreme heat and its consequences. These include flooding, hail storms, and fires throughout the summer. In response, the Italian Health Ministry issued red-alert heat warnings to inform residents about the risks associated with high temperatures. Recently, Milan witnessed the obliteration of hailstone records due to powerful winds, while several towns suffered significant damage from hailstorms, as reported by the Guardian.
Surprising Fact
A study published in the journal Nature Medicine found that over 61,000 people lost their lives in Europe last summer during the heatwave.
Further Reading
Read more about the extreme weather conditions in Europe in the New York Times article “Extreme Weather Hits Europe, And It’s Not Over Yet.”
Learn about Italy’s vulnerability to the climate crisis and the extreme events that worry climatologists in an enlightening piece by the Guardian titled “‘The Extreme Events Scare Me The Most’: Climatologist Warns Of Italy’s Vulnerability To Climate Crisis.”
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