On the morning of 10th November and during the night between 10th and 11th November 2017, heavy rains fell in the Ragusa province destroying local greenhouse crops. Some areas were hit by actual tornadoes, such as for example Vittoria.
Above: greenhouses destroyed by a tornado in Scoglitti (RG).
It will take days to assess the damage. In addition to the collapsed greenhouses, operators also have to deal with flooded crops.
Above: collapsed greenhouses in Vittoria (RG).
With the crisis not entirely over yet, those who haven't had the chance to insure their productions against bad weather will probably have to fight hard to stay afloat.
Regional and local politicians have organised themselves to declare a state of natural disaster, which may not provide sufficient relief.
An inspection of the coastal area reveals all the damage. We talked about it with Ginafranco Cunsolo from Coldiretti Ragusa.
"We went from extreme drought in summer to the cloudburst that hit part of the S. Croce Camerina (RG) a month ago. And the crazy weather is continuing with tornadoes in Acate (RG), Pedalino (RG), Vittoria and part of Randello. Entire greenhouses, growing peppers, tomatoes, aubergines, etc. were hit."
L'interno di un vivaio a Scoglitti (RG)
"Coldiretti Ragusa is applying for a state of natural disaster to be declared and is urging all damaged producers to report their situation so we can quantify the areas hit and the economic damage."
Climate change is a serious issue. Ironically, the topic was discussed the day before at a convention. Luigi Pasotto from the Osservatorio delle Acque - Climatologia, Idrografia e Idrologia, Sala di Vigilanza della Regione Siciliana, analysed weather anomalies and their effects on crops. "Precipitations are increasingly rare and more and more extreme; damaging both the crops and the territory."