The torrential rains that caused floods and landslides in northern Emilia-Romagna, Italy, have resulted in at least nine died and thousands of home evacuations.
According to Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci, some districts experienced half their typical annual rainfall in just 36 hours, which led to the collapse of river banks and the flooding of thousands of acres of farmland, according to Reuters.
The Formula One Grand Prix that was scheduled to take place in Imola on Sunday has been postponed in order to reduce the strain on the emergency services and keep racegoers away from the affected area.
“We are facing catastrophic events that have probably not been seen before,” Stefano Bonaccini, the Emilia-Romagna region’s president, according to Reuters. Unusual amounts of rain have fallen on land that can no longer absorb them.
The representative of the local interior ministry for Ravenna, a city on the Adriatic coast, announced that approximately 14,000 people would need to be evacuated as soon as feasible. According to the news agency, authorities reported that floods had affected 37 towns and settlements and that almost 120 landslides had been reported.
bridge close to Bologna collapsed, flooding submerged some highways
A bridge close to Bologna collapsed, flooding submerged some highways, and numerous rail services were cancelled. When the cabinet meets on May 23 to discuss relief measures, Civil Protection Minister Musumeci said he will request that 20 million euros (about 22 million USD) be made available for the affected area.
According to the BBC, citizens in Cesena climbed onto rooftops to wait for rescue by boat or helicopter. In Emilia-Romagna, people are taking refuge in gyms and schools, and the town has no electricity.
Emilia-Romagna has already experienced poor weather twice; at the beginning of May, two people perished as a result of the torrential rain.
The impact of the floods will be worsened by the rain since a prolonged period of severe drought has rendered the soil virtually incapable of absorbing water. In some areas of the region, according to Minister Musumeci, between 200mm and 500mm of rain fell in just one and a half days, compared to an average yearly rainfall of 1,000 mm. In the upcoming days, more rain is predicted in the area.
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