Two billion euros in damages, though the figure is still provisional. The material losses caused by the passage of Storm Harry across Sicily, Sardinia and Calabria have perhaps been overshadowed by the fact that, fortunately, no fatalities were recorded. Yet the extreme weather event was certainly among the most violent in recent years.

Around a thousand people evacuated in Niscemi due to a massive landslide

This afternoon, Monday 26 January, a Council of Ministers meeting is scheduled to assess the state of emergency and determine what interventions are needed. In the meantime, in a press release the Civil Protection Department announced that it continues "to monitor the effects of the severe weather that struck several regions of Southern Italy in recent days. In particular, this morning the Department Head Fabio Ciciliano will chair a situation update from the Crisis Unit room, together with the Municipal Operations Centre of Niscemi and the prefecture of Caltanissetta, in connection with the major landslide that occurred in the municipality, causing the closure of several roads and the evacuation of around a thousand people".

Local Team ✓ @localteamit

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Niscemi, situazione drammatica per una frana di proporzioni enormi. Collassano porzioni di case, le immagini dal drone

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In the municipality in the province of Caltanissetta, the situation is considered dramatic. The mayor, Massimiliano Conti, explained to Rainews24 that many of the evacuated residents "have found shelter in second homes or with relatives and friends", while some have taken refuge "in storage houses". The landslide, moreover, has not yet stabilised: on the contrary, according to the mayor, collapses are still being recorded.

Over a billion in damages in Sicily alone, with waves recorded at nearly 17 metres

More specifically, the two billion euros in damages break down as follows: over one billion in Sicily, around half a billion in Sardinia, and several hundred million in Calabria. The greatest damage was sustained, as one might expect, along the coastlines: from beaches to coastal roads and railway lines, from beach establishments, shops and hospitality businesses, to numerous boats.

I danni provocati dalla tempesta Harry sul litorale di Catanzaro, in Calabria — The damage caused by Storm Harry along the coastline of Catanzaro, in Calabria © Valeria Ferraro/Anadolu via Getty Images

The waves driven by wind gusts exceeding 120 kilometres per hour were enormous: in the Strait of Sicily, heights approaching 17 metres were recorded, according to data from the Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (Ispra).

A state of emergency declared in Sardinia following Storm Harry

The Minister of Civil Protection, Nello Musumeci, carried out an on-site inspection in Santa Teresa Riva, Sicily, and pledged the first measures to restore road accessibility and remove debris. In Sardinia, Regional President Alessandra Todde declared a state of emergency: "We are talking about hundreds of millions in infrastructural damage, including losses linked to cultural heritage and the environment: this is not a situation that calls for a knee-jerk reaction — it requires a serious, measured response."

ANSA Scienza&Tecnica @AnsaScienza

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I satelliti hanno fotografato la 'zampata' della tempesta Harry sul mar Tirreno meridionale: quelli che appaiono come graffi sono in realtà le scie e le turbolenze prodotte dai forti venti che hanno sferzato le acque più superficiali.
@CopernicusEU
ansa.it/canale_scienza…

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The President of the Sicilian Region, Renato Schifani, has meanwhile called an extraordinary meeting of the regional government to allocate an initial 70 million euros. He also announced that the regional executive body is exploring the possibility of accessing the European Union Solidarity Fund.

Climate change will multiply extreme weather events

A further cause for concern is agricultural production: between Storm Harry and the frosts, wholesale prices for certain vegetables are rising sharply. In particular, according to the ANSA news agency, citing an analysis by Bmti across markets in the Italmercati network, artichokes are recording price increases of 30 per cent.

Guardia Costiera @guardiacostiera

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⚓️ Quanti danni e devastazione provocati dal ciclone Harry! Quante persone lasciate senza casa o senza esercizio commerciale. La Guardia Costiera ⚓️ vi é vicina ♥️ anche con i voli di ricognizione e monitoraggio a supporto del Dipartimento Nazionale della Protezione Civile 🇮🇹

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For years now, science has made clear that the rise in average global temperature is causing — and will continue to cause — an increase in both the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Not only storms and hurricanes, with torrential rainfall and flooding, but also heatwaves and droughts that are growing ever more intense and prolonged.

2 billion in damages: what Storm Harry has left behind