Severe Flooding and Landslides Strike Northern Italy
Heavy rainfall has unleashed a wave of destruction across northern Italy, leading to widespread flooding and numerous landslides. Red weather warnings have been issued for major cities such as Florence and Pisa, with meteorologists predicting that the torrential rain will persist into Friday.
In Bologna, located in the Emilia-Romagna region, authorities have begun evacuating residents as they brace for worsening conditions. The Rimaggio River, which runs through the area, has overflowed its banks, resulting in dramatic scenes of floodwaters submerging vehicles in Sesto Fiorentino, just outside Florence.
Eugenio Giani, the regional president of Tuscany, has confirmed that emergency services are on high alert. He urged the public to exercise “utmost attention and caution” in light of the severe weather conditions. As the situation escalates, Giani has called for the national civil protection agency to be mobilized to address the widespread weather emergency, which has particularly affected the cities of Prato, Pistoia, and Pisa.
The effects of the flooding have already been significant. In Pisa, military personnel have been deployed to erect flood defenses along the Arno River as water levels have surpassed the initial flood-risk threshold. In Florence, residents have been advised to minimize travel due to partial closures of the A1 motorway caused by flooding. More than 60 municipalities throughout Tuscany, as well as several campuses of the University of Florence, have opted to close schools as a precautionary measure.
In the capital city of Tuscany, an order from Mayor Sara Funaro has led to the closure of several public spaces, including museums, cinemas, theaters, libraries, sports centers, markets, and cemeteries, effective until at least 2 PM on Saturday. In Prato, local authorities have mandated the cessation of all commercial and industrial activities, with this measure remaining in effect until midnight. The municipal administration emphasized that these precautions were necessary due to the heightened risk of local rivers and streams overflowing.
Additionally, Andrea Tagliaferri, the mayor of nearby Campi Bisenzio, has also ordered the shutdown of businesses and shops for Friday and Saturday. Public and private offices, excluding those providing essential services, will remain closed in Campi as well.
Firefighters have responded to numerous emergency calls following the overflow of the Rimaggio River, and a family of four was rescued from a landslide incident in Badia Prataglia, Tuscany. Meanwhile, in Venice, the MOSE anti-flood system, which was activated for the 100th time since its inauguration in 2020, successfully protected the city from rising tides. On Friday, sea levels outside Venice reached an average height of 115 centimeters.
This series of extreme weather events is not isolated; northern Italy has faced repeated severe weather challenges in recent years. In 2023, catastrophic floods in Emilia-Romagna resulted in 13 fatalities after an unprecedented six months of rainfall fell within a mere 36 hours. Moreover, in September 2024, over 1,000 residents were evacuated from the region due to the devastating impacts of Storm Boris.
Experts have increasingly linked the intensifying severity of these floods to climate change. Scientists from the World Weather Attribution group reported that last year’s extreme rainfall in Emilia-Romagna was exacerbated by global warming.
This story is being continuously updated.
