Massive Flooding, Mudslides In Italy’s Emilia Romagna Claim At Least Eight Lives

• Heavy flooding and mudslides in Italy’s northern Emilia Romagna region have caused at least eight deaths and compelled over 13,000 residents to evacuate.

• The region is undergoing a red alert for life-threatening weather events due to prolonged drought.

• Over 600 firefighters have been deployed to help with evacuations following the Po River bursting its banks.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the local authorities have reported that heavy flooding and mudslides in Italy’s northern region of Emilia Romagna have caused the deaths of at least eight people, with over 13,000 residents being compelled to evacuate.

During an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, it was revealed that three individuals perished in Forli, while another lost their life due to a mudslide in Cesenate. A married couple were also found dead in Ronta di Cesena, with two additional casualties reported overnight.

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Regional President Stefano Bonaccini stated that 3,000 people from Bologna, 5,000 from Faenza, and another 5,000 from Ravenna were evacuated. He extended the region’s condolences to the families of those who lost their lives or are missing.

The vice president of Emilia Romagna, Irene Priolo, told reporters that the rains were easing but that river levels were still rising, according to Reuters.

The region, which has been suffering a prolonged drought, is under a red alert – the highest level warning or state of emergency for life-threatening weather events. The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, scheduled for this weekend, has been canceled and the site evacuated.

Fourteen rivers burst their banks in the region, forcing people in cities such as Cesena to climb onto the roof of their buildings to escape incoming water, Reuters reported. Firefighters rescued them with helicopters or rubber dinghies.

A total of 600 firefighters have been deployed from across Italy to assist with evacuations in the region after Italy’s longest river, the Po, broke its banks, the Italian Department for Civil Protection said in a tweet.

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Residents in numerous areas across the region, including in the city of Bologna, were asked not to leave their homes.

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