World
October 20, 2024 15:10
rome - Massive flooding in Emilia-Romagna, Italy has led to evacuations, casualties, and extensive damage. Read more about the catastrophic weather conditions in the region.
Severe flooding in Emilia-Romagna, Italy has resulted in a tragic incident where a 20-year-old man lost his life in the town of Pianoro. He and his brother were trapped in their car as the Zena River flooded, causing them to be overwhelmed by a massive mudslide.
While the brother managed to save himself and seek refuge in a sports complex in Pianoro along with other displaced individuals, the stranded car was located by the fire department on Sunday morning with the assistance of a helicopter.
Countless families have been isolated due to rising waters, with many roads closed and some forced to stay on the upper floors of their homes as the ground level remains flooded. Residents in Budrio were evacuated to a sports hall for safety, but even that location became uninhabitable due to the flooding, necessitating further evacuations.
The widespread power outages in the region have led to road closures, temporary school shutdowns, and disruptions in train services. The province of Piacenza also faced challenges from the relentless rainfall, causing the Po River to overflow at over six meters, submerging streets and fields. The A1 highway between Piacenza and Parma even experienced flooding. The fire department was deployed to over 300 locations to address the emergencies.
A Dutch resident, Tonny Sikking (59), residing in Bellaria near Rimini in Emilia-Romagna, described the situation as many shop owners relocating their goods to higher ground as their stores were submerged. He mentioned the significant presence of firefighting and civil protection teams actively assisting in water drainage operations throughout the affected areas.
Sikking recounted witnessing a car stuck under a bridge in Cesenatico and shared the plight of a friend of his wife who had to abandon the ground floor of her flooded house. Efforts are underway to provide her with adequate assistance and support.
In Bagnolo in Piano, Reggio Emilia, firefighters rescued children stranded by the flooding, while in Castel Maggiore, Bologna, the military intervened overnight to aid residents. Local volunteers also joined forces to clear the streets of mud using shovels.