BAD WEATHER – Lightning strikes in Rome. The Arch of Constantine, located near the Colosseum, was damaged on Tuesday, September 3, during a violent storm that poured torrential rain on the Italian capital, we learned the following day from local authorities.
Paris 2024 Olympics: Maintaining the Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower is far from unanimous
“All the fragments (of the arc struck by lightning and fallen to the ground – Editor’s note) have been recovered and put in a safe place”a spokeswoman for the Colosseum archaeological park told AFP. “The assessment of the damage has already begun and the analyses are continuing this morning”she added.
This triumphal arch was erected to the glory of Emperor Constantine in 315 AD to celebrate his victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge against his rival Maxentius.
Bad weather symptomatic of climate change
Standing 25 metres tall, it is undergoing maintenance work that had just started. It is the largest of the three triumphal arches still preserved in Rome and located on the route of the triumphal processions, near the Colosseum. After a hot and dry summer, Rome was hit on Tuesday afternoon by a sudden storm, accompanied by torrential rain, strong winds, thunder and lightning.
More than 80 millimeters of rain per square meter fell on the historic center, roughly the amount of rain recorded on average in an autumn month, according to the municipality of Rome. Winds blowing at 90 km/h brought down trees.
Experts say climate change is altering weather balances and increasing the number of extreme weather events. “It is increasingly clear that the issue of climate change and its impact on our lives is now unavoidable.”commented the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri.
Also see on Le HuffPost :
Weather and heat: Nice experiences a record number of “tropical nights” and it’s no coincidence
Pacific Islands to be swallowed up? UN chief issues ‘global SOS’
