The Aosta Valley regional government
has sent a request to the central government in Rome for a
national state of emergency to be declared in the wake of last
week's extreme weather in northern Italy, which caused mudslides
and widespread flooding, especially in the areas of the mountain
resorts of Cogne and Cervinia, sources said Thursday.
Almost 1,800 tourists had to be evacuated form Cogne after
flooding badly damaged the regional highway to the town on the
slopes of the Gran Paradiso mountain.
Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci said Tuesday that it
will not be possible to reopen the highway for at least a month.
Cervinia Deputy Mayor Massimo Chatrian said the damage there
adds up to "millions and millions".
ANSA sources said the request filed by the regional government
was incomplete at the moment as it lacks as assessment of the
overall cost the damage, adding that Civil Protection Department
Chief Fabrizio Curcio is expected to complete the procedure next
week.
Scientists say the climate crisis caused by human greenhouse gas
emissions is making extreme weather events such as heatwaves,
droughts, supercharged storms and flooding more frequent and
more intense.
Although there are many sources of the greenhouse gases that
are causing global heating, the main driver is the burning of
fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal, sales of which generate
huge profits for the world's energy giants.
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