Truckers' protest empties supermarkets in Bari and Naples, mayors urge government action

A truckers' protest in Italy is causing supermarket shelves to empty, particularly fresh produce, with warehouses in the Bari area at risk of running out within days. Mayors of Bari and Naples are urging the government to act. The mayors, Vito Leccese and Gaetano Manfredi, issued a joint statement warning of potential city paralysis and waste collection failures. They are asking Transport Minister Matteo Salvini to move a scheduled October 27 meeting earlier to resolve the dispute. The protest stems from unsustainable costs for hauliers. While supplies have been maintained in Puglia except for the Foggia area, operators confirm a real risk of total blockage in the next five days, affecting all major retail chains.