By Smartencyclopedia Newsroom
According to local authorities, heavy flooding and mudslides in the northern Italian region of Emilia Romagna have claimed the lives of at least eight individuals and led to the evacuation of over 5,000 residents.
Reuters reports that the bodies have been found in various locations, while Vice President Irene Priolo mentioned that although the rainfall was subsiding, river levels were still on the rise.
The region, which has been experiencing a prolonged drought, is under a red alert, signifying a state of emergency due to life-threatening weather conditions.
As a result, the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, scheduled for the upcoming weekend, has been canceled, and the site has been cleared. In cities like Cesena, where 14 rivers overflowed, people sought refuge on their rooftops and were later rescued by firefighters using helicopters or rubber dinghies.
The Italian Department for Civil Protection announced in a tweet that 600 firefighters from various parts of Italy have been mobilized to aid in the evacuation efforts as the Po River, the longest river in Italy, overflowed and caused widespread flooding. Residents in multiple areas of the region, including the city of Bologna, were advised to stay indoors and avoid leaving their homes.
Ravenna, a city in the affected region, has been severely impacted by the flooding. Mayor Michele de Pascale described it as the worst night in the history of Romagna and reported that 5,000 individuals were evacuated from Ravenna alone overnight. The extent of the damage has left the city unrecognizable.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her sympathy to those affected by the flooding, assuring them that the government is prepared to provide necessary assistance. Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani reiterated the government’s commitment to help everyone affected, including evacuees and those who have suffered crop losses.
In the neighboring region of Le Marche, which has also been heavily affected by the flooding, 200 firefighters have been deployed in the past 24 hours to conduct rescue operations, as reported by the Vigili del Fuoco fire service.
The recent torrential rains in northern Italy leading to the devastating floods are believed to be connected to the climate crisis. The region had been experiencing months of drought, which meteorologists suggest has decreased the land’s ability to absorb water, exacerbating the flooding. This highlights the impact of the climate crisis on water-related disasters.
In February, the effects of the drought were evident as water levels in Lake Garda, located in northern Italy, reached record lows. Additionally, the city of Venice experienced unusually low tides during this time, further emphasizing the water-related challenges faced by the region due to changing environmental conditions.
Recent research indicates that water-related disasters, ranging from prolonged droughts to severe flooding, have become more intense and frequent over the past two decades.
The study conducted by NASA scientists and published in the journal Nature Water highlights the strong connection between these extreme events and rising global temperatures, attributing them more to climate change than natural weather fluctuations like El Niño and La Niña.
The findings suggest that as the climate crisis worsens, these intense water-related disasters are likely to become more prevalent.
As a result of the heavy flooding in the region, the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, a Formula 1 race scheduled for this weekend, has been canceled due to safety concerns. Formula 1 announced the decision, acknowledging the challenging circumstances faced by local authorities and emergency services.
Precautionary measures were taken earlier, as Formula 1 staff were asked to vacate the race site. The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was intended to be the first European event of the Formula 1 season.
Source: with agencies