Emergency services are mobilizing as heavy rain leads to incidents of flooding and landslides, prompting evacuations and school closures.
**Italy Faces Flooding Crisis as Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna Brace for Adverse Weather**
**Italy Faces Flooding Crisis as Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna Brace for Adverse Weather**
Severe weather warnings have prompted heightened alertness in Florence and Pisa as flooding escalates in northern Italy.
Red weather alerts have been issued for areas in Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna due to the alarming impact of torrential rain. Northern cities, including Florence and Pisa, are currently experiencing severe flooding, with local authorities urging residents to remain vigilant and cautious as heavy rainfall continues.
Tuscany’s president emphasized that both rescue and healthcare services are on high alert. Reports indicate landslides and mudslides have already been observed, particularly in Bologna, where several residents were evacuated due to imminent risk following a deluge of rain overnight. Fortunately, there have been no reported casualties, and authorities believe the most intense flooding in Bologna has subsided by Friday morning.
In a dramatic rescue operation, a family of four was saved from a landslide in Badia Prataglia, while the national fire brigade handled numerous emergency calls related to flooding incidents, particularly the Rimaggio river overflowing into Sesto Fiorentino, a northern suburb of Florence.
Meanwhile, in Pisa, emergency preparations included erecting flood defenses along the Arno River, which has exceeded early flood-risk levels. Roads across the region succumbed to flooding and fallen trees, leading to advisories against non-essential travel, especially following the partial closure of the A1 motorway. Additionally, educational institutions in over 60 municipalities shuttered their doors, along with various campuses of the University of Florence.
As rain continues, the red weather alerts indicate a significant risk of extensive flooding, raising concerns as some rivers in Emilia-Romagna remain swollen from prior storms. The region’s vulnerability to flooding is evident, notably after Storm Boris led to the evacuation of over 1,000 residents in September 2024, and a tragic event the previous year claimed 13 lives due to unprecedented rainfall.
