Approximately a thousand individuals had to be evacuated in Emilia-Romagna, a northern region in Italy, due to heavy rains and significant flooding overnight, as per reports from local media on Thursday. The provinces of Ravenna, Bologna, and Faenza experienced river flooding, prompting local mayors to urge residents to either move to higher floors in their homes or leave altogether.
Around 800 residents in Ravenna and nearly 200 in Bologna sought refuge in shelters, schools, and sports facilities as rivers in the area burst their banks. Train services were halted, and schools remained closed in the affected regions, with locals advised to refrain from unnecessary travel and to work from home if feasible.
The Faenza area was still in the process of recovering from the devastating floods that struck Emilia-Romagna back in May 2023, resulting in 17 fatalities and billions of euros in damages. Faenza Mayor Massimo Isola described the night as tense, with residents anxiously monitoring rising river levels in the city. Fortunately, due to recent infrastructure improvements, a major flood in the city center was averted.
In recent days, severe flooding has affected several Central and Eastern European countries, including Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania. The death toll in the region has climbed to over 20, emphasizing the widespread impact of the ongoing flooding crisis.
