Metro

German Grandmother, Grandson Missing in Italy Floods

Published

3 months ago

Sep 25, 2024.

A German grandmother and her five-month-old grandson are missing after a flash flood swept through their holiday home near Pisa, Tuscany.

The tragedy occurred when the nearby River Sterza overflowed its banks, flooding the residence where the family was staying.

The family, vacationing in Italy, called emergency services on Monday evening as floodwaters began to rush into their home. However, a language barrier and difficulties in locating the family delayed the rescue efforts.

As they attempted to reach higher ground, the baby tragically fell into the water, and his grandmother was swept away while trying to save him, as reported by the mayor of Montecatini Val di Cecina, Francesco Auriemma.

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While the baby’s parents and grandfather managed to reach the rooftop and were later rescued, the search for the grandmother and the infant continues. Over 100 firefighters are involved in the operation, facing challenging conditions as roads have collapsed and large areas are covered in mud.

Firefighter Nicola Cianelli described the floodwaters as rising “incredibly quickly,” with waves reaching heights of 2.5 meters (8 feet) impacting the house. The region has been battered by heavy rainfall since Monday, with more adverse weather expected.

Tuscany has experienced unprecedented rainfall, with more water falling in just six hours than typically accumulates in an entire month of rainy weather, according to regional president Eugenio Giani.