Update: 17.05.2023 13:57
Issued by: 17.05.2023, 13:57
Rome – The number of victims of flooding in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, located in the northeastern part of the country, rose to nine during the day. The Italian media informs about it. Due to the flooding, which has been ongoing since Tuesday, local authorities have also evacuated several thousand people as a precaution, and tens of thousands more have been left without electricity and mobile phone network signal. In part of the region, the situation will remain critical even on Thursday.
The latest flood victim found is a man who fell into a well and drowned while trying to pump water out of it, the media reports.
According to the latest information, it overflowed its banks into 20 rivers and other watercourses, and the floods affected 35 municipalities. According to Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci, some places in the region have recorded as much rainfall in the last 36 hours as they normally receive in six months.
Musumeci also announced this afternoon that 50,000 people were left without electricity in the region. He added that there is no signal for 100,000 mobile phone users and about 10,000 clients are without a fixed telecommunications connection. Local rail transport in the region is limited, high-speed lines and long-distance lines are operating. Traffic on the key A14 highway was also restricted.
Meteorologists have kept severe weather warnings in place for some parts of the region on Thursday. In some cities, such as Rimini, the authorities decided to resume classes in schools on Thursday.
“In many parts of the Emilia-Romagna region, the situation is dramatic,” pointed out the chairman of the regional council, Stefano Bonaccini. According to him, “the reality exceeded the worst expectations”.
The Emilie-Romagni Formula 1 Grand Prix, which was supposed to be held at the weekend, was also canceled due to flooding. Some roads near the circuit were already closed and parking lots were under water. A number of other sporting events were also cancelled.
“They issued a warning around nine in the evening and the water rose within ten minutes,” a woman from the city of Faenza told ANSA.
Northeast Italy was affected by floods already at the beginning of May, when they claimed two lives.
Italy floods, floods
