By Natalia Rueda 
Italy was hit by extreme weather conditions this week as deadly storms lashed northern regions and wildfires forced the closure of Palermo airport in Sicily.
In northern Italy, the storms caused the death of a 16-year-old girl scout, the floods and strong winds knocked down several trees which fell onto roads in Milan, and cut the electricity network and water supply. In the southern region of Sicily, the heatwave caused wildfires to spread near Palermo airport, leading to disrupted rail transport and the closure of the airport.
The heatwave has caused the temperature to reach 47.6°C in Catania (Sicily). Affected areas included Alimenusa, Gangi, Blufi, Misilmeri, Cefalù Bolognetta, Santa Flavia, Villabate, Partinico, San Cipirrello, and Corleone. In some cases, people had to evacuate their homes.
Italian Minister of Civil Protection Nello Musumeci was quick to alert citizens of the severity of the situation, noting “We are living in Italy one of the most complicated days. Storms, tornadoes, giant hail in the north, torrid heat and devastating fires in the center-south.” He went on to thank the firefighters, police, forestry workers, and volunteers for their bravery in these difficult hours. The victims of this historic day are reported to include a teenager in the region of Brescia, a woman in Lissone and an 88-year-old woman in Palermo.