Italy Flooding Claims Lives, Causes Massive Disruptions

Nine victims, 21 flooded rivers, 14,000 displaced people, and 50,000 without electricity in Italy as flooding has caused a red alert.

This is the provisional balance of the flood that hit Emilia Romagna, a region where the red alert was extended for another 24 hours starting from midnight on Thursday, May 18, and until midnight on Friday, May 19.

Also scheduled for Thursday is the reduction in the number of journeys, detours, and slowdowns for the high-speed train, intercity, and regional trains that travel the high-speed and conventional lines between Florence and Bologna. Slowdowns and cancellations are happening on all circulation along the north-south ridge and the Milan-Rome and Venice-Rome axes.

Due to the difficulties generated by the persistence of bad weather, the reactivation of railway traffic on the Adriatic line between Bologna and Rimini is scheduled for 6 am on Monday, May 22. Some long-distance trains to and from Puglia will follow the route via Bologna-Florence-Rome-Caserta-Foggia with an increase in travel times.

Part of the Intercity night train offer will be guaranteed, which will follow the route via Bologna-Florence-Terontola-Falconara-Ancona-Lecce. On the high-speed line, Trenitalia used double composition trains to ensure more seats for travelers, in view of the necessary reduction in journeys.

“It’s a new earthquake,” was the bitter comment of the Governor of Emilia Romagna, Stefano Bonaccini, who received a solidarity call from the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni thanks the rescuers on social media:

“Deeply grateful to the men and women engaged in rescue operations in these hours to help the populations affected by the severe weather, risking their own lives to save that of others. Thank you for your amazing work.”

In an official note, the Minister of Tourism, Daniela Santanchè, also expressed her closeness to the populations affected by the flood. “My deepest condolences to the families who have lost loved ones. As for the damage suffered by tourism businesses, I assure you that the ministry will do its part to provide all the necessary support. In the meantime, I would like to sincerely thank those who, in these hours, are engaged in rescue operations, putting their lives at risk to prevent the toll from getting worse.”

From Forlì Airport there is full support to rescuers and law enforcement agencies involved in dealing with the emergency. About 30 flights have been made so far by helicopters of the Air Force and the Fire Brigade in aid of the most affected places in Romagna.

Flights transported people rescued to Ridolfi airport, where 118 vehicles were waiting for them, already alerted based on their conditions (and then transferred to hospitals or assembly points). There has also been maximum collaboration from ENAV, the aviation authorities in Italy.