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Lightning Strike in Czech Republic Injures 18 People

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Eighteen people sustained injuries in the Czech Republic when a tree they were sheltering under was struck by lightning, according to local emergency services. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon in the Liberec-Vratislavice castle park, situated in the northern Liberec region, approximately 55 miles (90 km) northeast of Prague.

Images and videos shared by the fire service show numerous emergency personnel and vehicles at the scene. While officials have not released detailed information about the injured individuals, local media reported that children were among those hospitalized. The park was hosting an event for International Children’s Day at the time.

Czech TV station CT 24 reported that five of the injured were children aged between two and 16, and that five adults required resuscitation at the scene. Vaclav Ricar, a spokesperson for the Liberec regional hospital, told local newspaper Liberecky Denik that the hospital had received 17 conscious patients, confirming that one child was airlifted to a hospital in Prague.

The Czech Republic experienced heavy rain and storms over the weekend, with reports of flooding affecting various parts of the country. Climate change, which has caused the world to warm by approximately 1.1C since the industrial era, contributes to more frequent extreme rainfall events. Temperatures will continue to rise unless significant emissions reductions are made globally.

Experts advise those caught outside in a thunderstorm to seek a low spot away from trees, fences, and poles. If you feel your skin tingle or your hair stand on end, it indicates that lightning is imminent. The recommended action is to crouch down, balancing on the balls of your feet with your hands on your knees and your head between them, to make yourself the smallest target possible and minimize ground contact.

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Italy hit by severe flooding after heavy rain

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Storms and heavy rainfall have caused significant flooding in northern Italy, with cities like Padua and Vicenza heavily affected. Emergency services have been using dinghies to rescue residents, and footage shows cars floating in the streets. The governor of the Veneto region described the severe weather as a “water bomb.” In contrast, southern Italy, including Sicily, is experiencing an unusual heat wave with temperatures reaching up to 35°C.

Professor Marco Marani from the University of Padua, an expert on climate change, told Corriere del Veneto that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent due to global warming. In Padua, the banks of the Muson dei Sassi river collapsed, causing severe flooding. In Borgo Mantovano, Lombardy, a freight train was overturned by gusts up to 200 km/h. Milan saw 130 mm of rain in one day, leading to flash floods, the most intense May rainfall in over 170 years.

The Veneto region declared a state of red alert, particularly between Vicenza and Verona, where 70 mm of rain fell in 30 minutes, causing water basins to overflow. One person is missing in Como after a bridge collapse.

In the south, Sardinia is experiencing dry conditions, adversely affecting wheat harvests, and water restrictions are expected later in the summer. Prof. Marani emphasized the scientific evidence linking increased frequency of extreme weather events to climate change, underscoring the need to revise water defense calculations and manage climate change effectively.

A recent State of the Climate report by the EU climate agency Copernicus and the World Meteorological Organization highlighted the urgency of climate action and improved flood defenses, noting that in 2023, one-third of European rivers breached high flood thresholds, with 16% surpassing severe levels.

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‘Worst floods in decades’ hit Kazakhstan and Russia

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Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from 10 northern regions in Kazakhstan due to flooding, caused by the melting snow. The authorities have taken swift action to ensure the safety of residents amidst the worsening situation.

Across the border in Russia, an oil refinery in Orsk, situated approximately 1,800km southeast of Moscow, has been forced to cease operations due to the floods. The disruption highlights the widespread impact of the natural disaster on both countries’ infrastructure and economy.

The Kremlin has issued warnings about the unprecedented pace of rising water levels, with some areas experiencing the fastest increase in a century. President Putin has directed regional authorities to prepare for the inevitable floods and take proactive measures to safeguard affected communities.

Russian emergency services have undertaken large-scale evacuation efforts, with nearly 4,500 people relocated from the Orenburg region following a dam breach. The situation remains critical, with forecasts indicating dangerous water levels in the Ural River, heightening concerns for further flooding.

In Kazakhstan, the emergency ministry has mobilized resources to provide temporary shelters for approximately 12,000 evacuated individuals. Additionally, efforts have been made to relocate around 60,000 farm animals to safe areas, mitigating the impact on agriculture and livelihoods.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has acknowledged the severity of the disaster, describing it as the worst natural calamity in Kazakhstan in 80 years. He has assured the nation that the government is intensifying its response efforts and will provide all necessary assistance to affected areas, emphasizing the importance of unity and support during this challenging time.

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Severe Rainfall in Spain Leads to Widespread Flooding

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Significant rainfall has triggered major flooding across various parts of Spain, resulting in the issuance of maximum-level red weather alerts in regions such as Madrid, Toledo, and Cádiz. The torrential rain even forced the suspension of Sunday’s Atletico Madrid vs. Sevilla football match.

Residents in Madrid have been urged to stay indoors due to the unusually heavy and exceptional rainfall, with firefighters responding to 190 calls for assistance on flooded roads within the Spanish capital alone. The majority of the rainfall has concentrated in coastal areas around Cádiz, Tarragona, and Castelló.

In Castelló, on the eastern coast, flooding led to a daring rescue mission as firefighters saved a man trapped in his car, surrounded by waist-high floodwaters. In the northeastern city of Alcanar, Tarragona, where 215 liters of rain per square meter fell in a 24-hour period, people have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel.

Witnesses have described the harrowing scenes, such as Juan Carlos Penafiel, who recounted how residents had to use improvised ropes made from towels and bedsheets to rescue two young men stranded in his second-floor apartment as floodwaters rose. Debris and mudslides have affected Spanish roads, and many vehicles have struggled to navigate through the heavily flooded areas.

This extreme weather phenomenon is attributed to a slow-moving storm system known as a “depresión aislada en niveles altos” (Dana). Some train services have been canceled across Spain, and drivers are cautioned against using specific flooded roads in severely affected regions.

These weather events follow a scorching summer in Spain and southern Europe.

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Unesco Proposes Including Venice on Endangered List

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Unesco recommends placing Venice on the list of endangered World Heritage sites due to the risks posed by excessive tourism, overdevelopment, and rising sea levels from climate change. The agency aims to prompt better preservation efforts for the iconic Italian city’s future.

The proposal will be carefully reviewed by the Venice municipality and discussed with the Italian government. The city’s former mayor criticizes Unesco, calling it an expensive and ineffective body. Previously proposed for inclusion two years ago, Venice avoided the list temporarily due to emergency measures, but the promised conservation plan was never implemented.

Unesco’s report highlights the lack of a strategic vision to address climate change threats, and the impact of tourism on the city’s infrastructure. The agency believes that high-rise buildings should be constructed far from the city center to avoid negative visual impacts. Venice’s vulnerability to rising sea levels is exacerbated by its popularity as a tourist destination, with around 28 million visitors annually.

Currently, 55 World Heritage sites are listed as “in danger,” with an additional 204 being closely monitored by Unesco due to various threats.

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