Government allocates €100 million for storm damage in three regions.
The Italian government on Monday declared a 12-month national state of emergency for the regions of Sicily, Sardinia and Calabria following the catastrophic impact of Cyclone Harry.
The decision, reached during a cabinet meeting chaired by prime minister Giorgia Meloni, aims to accelerate recovery efforts and provide immediate relief to communities brought to their knees by the storm.
The Meloni administration has authorised an initial allocation of €100 million from the National Emergency Fund to jumpstart urgent repairs.
Civil protection minister Nello Musumeci noted that these funds will target the stabilisation of affected coastlines and the restoration of essential public services.
Cyclone Harry, which battered southern Italy between 18 and 22 January, has been described by meteorologists as one of the most violent Mediterranean storms in decades.
Waves reached heights of 10 metres, obliterating coastal promenades, while some areas saw more than 300 mm of rain in 48 hours – triple the January average.
Early estimates from Sicilian governor Renato Schifani place the damage in Sicily alone at over €1.5 billion.
More than 1,000 people have been evacuated from the Sicilian town of Niscemi following a massive landslide.
While there were no fatalities reported as a result of Cyclone Harry on Italian soil, Italy’s coastguard estimates that up to 380 migrants may have drowned in the Mediterranean while attempting the perilous crossing from north Africa during the storm.
