A tornado formed this afternoon between Mottola and Castellaneta, in the Taranto province, and was clearly visible from several neighboring municipalities. The impressive weather phenomenon, captured by numerous residents, quickly went viral on social media, even attracting the attention of regional weather portals. The event is part of a broader pattern of instability that hit Puglia and Basilicata immediately after the mid-August holiday, causing disruption to residents and tourists.
Heavy rains, gusts of wind, and tornadoes caught swimmers off guard along the Ionian coast . The Civil Protection Department has issued a yellow-level weather alert, valid for the next 18-24 hours.
Severe weather is affecting the entire country. Several tourists were injured by lightning strikes in Palinuro, in the province of Salerno. It happened this afternoon, when a sudden thunderstorm struck the Saline area, a popular stretch of the Cilento coast. Six people were involved: two were transported by ambulance to the "San Luca" hospital in Vallo della Lucania, while four others went to the emergency room on their own for checkups.
According to reports, the lightning struck a short distance from the shore, causing mild electrocution in some swimmers. Emergency medical services responded immediately. None of the people involved are reportedly in serious condition, but there was considerable fear.
In Syracuse, a man was struck by lightning while on a pier in Marzamemi, a seaside village near Pachino, in the Syracuse province. According to initial reports, he was checking on some boats when he was struck. The man was transferred to Syracuse's Umberto I Hospital, where he remains in serious condition. Yesterday in Marzamemi, rain also created difficulties for some boaters who were rescued at sea. A small tornado also forced several tourists to flee.
(Unioneonline)