X064-ITALIA TEMPORAL HARRY

STORY: Firefighters carried out search and rescue operation at a small port in Palermo as severe weather battered southern Italy, part of a storm system that has forced firefighters to carry out more than 1,650 rescue operations over three days, authorities said on Wednesday (January 21).

Footage released by Italian firefighters Vigili del Fuoco on Wednesday, showed search and rescue teams sifting through the Arenella marina after powerful waves dragged a parked vehicle into the water, where it later sank. The driver managed to escape before the car went under, officials said.

The storm, known as Cyclone Harry, has brought heavy rain, strong winds and storm surges to Sicily, Sardinia and Calabria since Jan. 19, prompting the deployment of 1,480 firefighters across the three regions.

Sicily recorded the highest number of incidents, with more than 1,013 interventions. In Palermo, eight people, including two children, were evacuated from buildings after seawater flooded basement levels.

In Sardinia, firefighters carried out more than 360 operations, mainly in the eastern and southern parts of the island, with additional personnel reinforcing emergency services. Two women were rescued overnight near Cagliari after swollen waterways put them at risk.

In Calabria, teams were deployed across much of the region, particularly along the Ionian coast, completing 293 rescue operations, the fire brigade said.