Flooding and landslides are causing concern in northern Italy as red weather alerts have been activated for regions including Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna. Intense rainfall has prompted warnings for cities such as Florence and Pisa, with forecasts suggesting continued downpours into Friday afternoon.
Tuscany's regional president declared local emergency services on high alert, urging residents to take exceptional caution as the weather deteriorates. Reports from Bologna indicate landslides, leading to evacuations of some residents ahead of an expected heavy rainfall overnight.
Fortunately, there have been no reported casualties, and authorities in Bologna stated that the most severe impacts from flooding had receded by Friday morning. A dramatic rescue took place in Badia Prataglia, where a family of four was saved from a landslide.
As the Rimaggio River overflowed in the Sesto Fiorentino area of Florence, the national fire brigade responded to numerous emergency calls. In Pisa, officials are working hard to build flood defenses along the Arno river as water levels have passed initial flood-risk thresholds.
Florence faced significant disruptions, with roads becoming impassable due to flooding and fallen debris, leading residents to be advised against unnecessary travel. The A1 motorway reported partial closures due to the weather conditions. Over 60 municipalities, along with several campuses of the University of Florence, have opted to close schools in response to these hazards.
The red weather alerts, indicating the potential for widespread and severe flooding, are expected to remain in place throughout the day as water levels rise in several rivers across Emilia-Romagna. This follows recent weather patterns where regions have been severely affected by storms. In September, over 1,000 residents were forced to evacuate north-eastern communities due to flooding caused by Storm Boris, and last year saw devastation throughout the area with significant casualties and landslides.
