The agricultural association expects damage of one and a half billion euros in the area between Forlì and Rimini alone. Dozens of communities are completely submerged. There are at least nine dead.
Following severe storms in northern Italy, the Adriatic region of Emilia Romagna now has fourteen dead and is struggling with chaotic conditions. A couple have been found dead in their flooded home, Italian media reported. The couple’s son, aged 73 and 71, informed authorities after he was no longer able to reach his parents by phone. Another two dead were recovered in the province of Ravenna. Another person is still missing.
The floods severely damaged agriculture and livestock, an important economic sector in the region. In the area between Forlì and Rimini alone, the fields suffered damage of one and a half billion euros, reported the agricultural association Coldiretti.
Destruction in Romagna and around Bologna
In Romagna and around Bologna, storms and floods destroyed one of Italy’s most important fruit and vegetable growing areas. The scenario is bleak: thousands of hectares are under water, several hectares of flooded orchards and stables without electricity, flooded warehouses. Whole grain crops were also lost.
5,000 farms were damaged, Coldiretti reported. Among other things, vineyards, apple and pear plantations and vegetable gardens are affected. There were also problems with the delivery of perishable food, which was paralyzed due to the closure of the A14 motorway. This led to more losses for agricultural companies.
A bridge has collapsed near Bologna. Portal
The Italian Minister of Agriculture, Francesco Lollobrigida, assured that the government will intervene quickly to help communities affected by the storms and the heaviest rains in the last 30 years. He promised a government decree and the provision of adequate funds to deal with the damage. Farmers’ associations are calling on the government to intervene immediately with emergency legislation, as in the case of the earthquake that hit the area in 2012.
Dozens of landslides in the Emilia Romagna region
A total of 37 communities are completely submerged. 21 rivers have burst their banks and another 22 are about to burst their banks. According to the president of the Emilia Romagna region, Stefano Bonaccini, 280 landslides were registered in 60 municipalities. 400 roads were damaged. He put the damage in the billions. In Faenza, people climbed onto the roofs of their homes to save themselves from the giant waves. Some people were taken to safety by helicopters. There was a power outage in several parts of the city and there were also problems with telephone calls. Evacuations continued there into Thursday morning.
Severe damage in Cervia
In the province of Ravenna, an immediate evacuation order was issued due to the high risk of flooding. Rain showers were hardly expected, but the Italian civil defense continued to urge extreme caution. There was also serious damage at the seaside resort of Cervia on the Adriatic. The municipality of Ravenna, with the support of local police, has urged citizens living near rivers to move to the upper floors, Italian media reported. In the small town of Castel Bolognese, which was facing problems with the supply of drinking water, several citizens were evacuated from their homes. Drinking water was distributed using a tank truck.
According to the region’s vice president, Irene Priolo, “more than 10,000 people” were evacuated. According to the civil protection authority, 50,000 residents in the disaster area were left without electricity on Wednesday. Delays occurred on the rail system, which also affected high-speed trains on the Milan-Rome north-south axis. A 14-kilometer queue formed on the A1 “Autostrada del Sole” highway on a stretch of the Apennines not far from Bologna – after a landslide, only one lane was passable.
Meloni wants to make millions available
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government wants to help the Emilia Romagna region. She called a meeting of the Council of Ministers for Tuesday (May 23) to facilitate financial aid to areas affected by the severe climate emergency. The cabinet wants to make at least ten million euros available for initial measures. Structural measures against landslides and floods will also be discussed. Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin announced that the government will declare a state of emergency for Emilia Romagna. The objective is to release resources more quickly and avoid bureaucratic obstacles.
The Imola Grand Prix had to be cancelled. Portal
After the Imola Formula 1 Grand Prix was canceled due to the storm, American rock star Bruce Springsteen was criticized for not canceling a planned Thursday night concert at a park in the city of Ferrara despite the storm emergency. . Several fans asked Springsteen to postpone the show because of traffic problems and the danger of reaching the city of Ferrara on flooded roads. The concert for 50,000 people is sold out.
(APA)