Several Southern European Countries Face Deadly and Destructive Weather
In Italy, three people lost their lives on Saturday in an avalanche in the Alps, while Spain and Portugal are being hit by violent storms with torrential rains and strong winds, raising fears of large-scale flooding and significant material damage.
According to Italian rescue services, the victims were swept away by an avalanche while skiing off-piste in the Trentino-Alto Adige and Lombardy regions, mountainous areas that will host several sites for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina. The authorities have not ruled out the possibility of a fourth potential victim, as local media reported the death of a man from injuries caused by a previous avalanche.
Italian authorities explain that the abundant snowfall in the Alps in recent days has weakened the snowpack, causing an increase in avalanches. Earlier in the week, a similar incident had already cost the lives of Finnish skiers in Trentino-Alto Adige, illustrating the increased danger of mountain conditions.
Spain and Portugal Face an Unprecedented Situation
In the Iberian Peninsula, Spain and Portugal are preparing to face Storm "Marta", which comes just a few days after Storm "Leonardo", which had already caused widespread flooding and significant damage. In Andalusia, southern Spain, continuous rainfall has saturated the soil, increasing the risk of sudden flooding.
The President of the Andalusian region, Juan Manuel Moreno, described the situation as "complex and unprecedented". Dozens of roads have been cut off, rail traffic is severely disrupted, and more than 11,000 people have had to be evacuated from their homes.
The economic losses are estimated to be several million euros, while the damage to road infrastructure could exceed 500 million euros. The agricultural sector is among the most affected.
Given the extent of the damage, regional authorities have announced their intention to seek aid from the Spanish state and the European Union's Solidarity Fund, which is designed to support regions affected by major natural disasters.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez held an emergency meeting in Madrid after visiting the affected areas, saying he was struck by the persistence and intensity of the precipitation.
In Portugal, Storm "Marta" caused the death of a firefighter who was on patrol near a watercourse in the municipality of Campo Maior, in the center of the country, according to the Civil Protection Authority. The man was reportedly swept away by the water while trying to cross a flooded area.
This episode comes just days after another death related to Storm "Leonardo", which had also led to the evacuation of more than 1,100 people. Last month, Storm "Christine" had already caused five deaths in Portugal, in meteorological conditions described by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro as absolutely exceptional, recalling the region's growing vulnerability to extreme climate phenomena.
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