Dead animals, destroyed fields, soaked weeds, flooded greenhouses, rural roads and uprooted fences. The wave of bad weather that has overwhelmed the island in the last few hours with intense rainfall and water bombs that are causing the streams to overflow is also spreading in central and northern Sardinia.
In addition to inhabited centers, agriculture is once again paying the highest price: the "water bombs" in some areas of southern Sardinia recorded a quarter of the annual average rainfall.
According to Coldiretti analysis on data from the European Severe Weather Database (ESWD), 2021 is the year that marks the record of extreme events in Italy since the surveys began (an average of six per day), with a 45% increase over the same period last year. The result is "a damage count of over 2 billion euros in 2021, including losses in national agricultural production and damage to structures and infrastructures in the countryside", explains Coldiretti.
Yesterday the highest price was paid by central Sardinia in the Siniscola area and in particular in Lodè where the fury of the water swept away grass, rural roads and fences, and killed many sheep. Damage also in Northern Sardinia, with the water bomb that hit Monti and also involved some rural roads. And destruction also in the Sarrabus, in the Oristano area and in the patchwork of other territories as well.
Losses that add up to those already heavy of last Sunday which had affected various greenhouses and artichoke fields in the south-eastern part of the island from Capoterra and Sarroch up to the various municipalities of Sulcis.
"The Region must declare a state of natural disaster by guaranteeing immediate refreshments to farms that have actually suffered damage - says the president of Coldiretti Sardinia, Battista Cualbu -. Interventions that to be such must be targeted and rapid, otherwise we stop it is a matter of intentions and further waste of time and illusions for the farms already tormented by the numerous calamities that occur during the year ".
The heavy rains of these days are also slowing down and in some cases further damaging the olive growing season already severely affected by the drought of the first part of autumn.
"The effects of climate change are underway and are hitting agriculture hard - explains the director of Coldiretti Sardinia, Luca Saba -, we can't beat around the bush further but we need to reckon now, there are also funds waiting to be programmed. . The alternative is to continue trying to stop the emergencies without however solving the problem but only witnessing millionaire losses and agricultural assets ”.
(Unioneonline / vl)
