Violent storms battered Catania in Sicily on Tuesday (January 20), sinking a fishing boat in the port, flooding streets and prompting school closures as authorities issued the highest weather warnings across southern Italy.

Italy’s Protezione Civile declared a red alert for parts of Sicily, warning of torrential rain, hurricane-force winds and dangerous storm surges. In Catania, heavy seas swamped the harbour, damaging moored vessels, while firefighters responded to dozens of calls linked to flooding and fallen debris.

Regional officials said schools were closed in around 150 municipalities, with transport disrupted along coastal areas.

Emergency services remained on high alert as forecasters warned the severe weather could persist into the evening, urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel and coastal areas.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

CATANIA, ITALY (JANUARY 20, 2026) (REUTERS - Access All)

1. OFFICIALS PREPARING LIFEBOATS, EMERGENCY VEHICLES ON ROAD

2. VARIOUS OF FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE PERSONNEL, VIGILI DEL FUOCO, STANDING BY LIFEBOAT, STORMY SEA

3. VIGILI DEL FUOGO PREPARING LIFEBOAT

4. STORMY SEA

5. RESCUE PERSONNEL ON ROPE, ANOTHER MAN HOLDING ROPE

6. RESCUE PERSONNEL STANDING BY SEA

7. STORMY SEA

8. TREES BLOWING IN WIND, RAIN

9. RESCUE PERSONNEL REMOVING LADDERS FROM VEHICLE

10. COLLAPSED WALL, SECURITY TAPE

11. RESCUE PERSONNEL MOVING BROKEN PIECE FROM WALL

12. VARIOUS OF RESCUE PERSONNEL WITH CHAIN SAW

13. RESCUE PERSONNEL MOVING DECK CHAIR

14. RESCUE PERSONNEL USING CHAINSAW

15. VARIOUS OF RESCUE PERSONNEL ON TOP OF EMERGENCY VEHICLE

16. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) LOCAL RESIDENT, DOMENICO GRASSO, SAYING:

"The municipal administration has decided to evacuate the residents who live in streets right along the seafront and the rocky coastline, out of concern that the (waves from the) sea could reach and strike the houses themselves. So this seems to be a legitimate concern. Some other streets are also affected because there are streams that are likewise dangerous. That is essentially the situation."

17. VARIOUS OF RAIN, TREES BLOWING IN WIND

18. VARIOUS OF STORMY SEA, RAIN

19. TREES BLOWING IN WIND, SEA

20. STORMY SEA

21. PEOPLE STANDING, WATCHING WAVES