Violent floods and storms shake Italy. Thousands of people are still unable to return to their homes. The news ticker.
Update from May 23, 6:45 a.m.: In Italy, the situation remains tense, the clean-up work after the devastating rains continues. Even though the rain has subsided, there is still a risk of landslides in many places in Emilia-Romagna, according to the authorities. Around Ravenna, Bologna and Forlì, the water that stands in fields and villages can only drain poorly. The homes of thousands of people are uninhabitable after the storm disaster, and according to media reports, reconstruction could take years.
About 23,000 people have not yet returned to their homes, according to a report in Die Zeit. Many are accommodated with friends or relatives, others have been accommodated in hotels or in emergency camps, such as schools. More than 600 roads also have to remain closed due to severe damage. The region estimates the cost of repairing the roads at more than 620 million euros.
After the dramatic floods in the north of Italy, the clean-up work continues. © Michele Nucci/dpa
Severe damage in Italy due to severe weather disaster: 42 villages still under water
Update of May 22, 16:57 p.m.: After the dramatic floods in Emilia-Romagna, the death toll has risen to 14. 42 towns between Romagna and Bologna are still under water, between Reggio Emilia and Rimini municipalities are still affected by landslides, roads are destroyed or damaged. More than 26,300 people had to leave their homes. The damage to local agriculture is enormous.
Gradually, the extent of the damage caused by the storm disaster becomes visible. In addition, new problems are emerging. In Forlì, an entire residential building had to be evacuated during the night due to a gas leak after deep cracks appeared in the asphalt. As ForliToday reports, about 30 families are affected. In addition, there is growing concern that the floods have exposed war residues. The population is now being expressly warned against this.
In the orchards, plants would have to be uprooted and replanted. Entire plantations are affected, according to the agricultural association Coldiretti in the Adriatic region. The masses of water would have "suffocated" the roots of the plants. Thousands of cattle, pigs and sheep still need to be saved. Farms are difficult to reach because of the landslides and need food and water.
Floods in Italy: water masses are slowly retreating
Update from May 22, 11:14 a.m.: The masses of water that have flooded several streets and fields in Italy due to violent storms are gradually retreating in many places. This is reported by the Italian news agency Ansa. According to the report, almost a thousand firefighters have been working for days to get a grip on the devastating consequences of flooding and landslides.
0
Also Read
Austria's exceptional alpinist falls 60 meters to his death at the Brenner Pass – son has to watch it
READ
Fatal effects of tourism: Natural wonders in Yellowstone Park probably destroyed
READ
Marvel star dead: Ray Stevenson dies during film shoot in Italy
READ
16-year-old beauty queen marries 65-year-old millionaire who doubles as mayor
READ
Huge boulders crash at night on South Tyrolean holiday road: Fiat driver rushes in by a hair
READ
Fancy a voyage of discovery?
My Area
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also arrived at the weekend and signalled rapid aid for the affected regions. "The state is here and we will give immediate answers," Meloni announced, according to Ansa. The Prime Minister spoke publicly of "a tragedy", but the flood disaster could also be "an opportunity to be reborn stronger".
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was on site to get an idea and encourage those affected. "The state is here and we will give answers immediately," she promised. © Imago
The words of the politician apparently did not encourage all those affected. Despite promised emergency aid of 100 million euros and another 300 million euros in aid, resentment is spreading among the inhabitants of the affected region. So far, 14 people have died as a result of the disaster. Many lost their homes and belongings as a result of the storms. "Leave them behind, they are a monument to neglect," the correspondent of Italy's second-largest daily newspaper la Repubblica quotes flood victims on the ground.
Meloni visits affected floodplains: "It's a tragedy"
Update from May 22, 7:02 a.m.: On Sunday afternoon (21 May), Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited the city of Forlì and other towns in the province of Ravenna with a small delegation. This is reported by Der Spiegel. "It's a tragedy," Meloni said of the current situation in Italy, which is plagued by violent storms, floods and landslides.
As the news magazine writes, the EU wants to supply Italy with pumping equipment to cope with the floods as part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. According to the Italian Civil Protection, parts of this area on the Adriatic coast are still under the highest red alert.
Floods in Italy: Meloni visits floodplains © IMAGO/Us
Italy: Red alert continues – and now the storm is hitting Sicily
Update from May 21, 12:02 p.m.: There is still no all-clear in the flood-affected regions of Italy: Although the rain has subsided somewhat, the highest alert level is still red. This was announced by the Civil Defense late on Saturday evening (May 20).
In addition to the coastal areas of the Adriatic Sea in the north-east of the country, the holiday island of Sicily, which is popular with German tourists, was particularly hard hit by the storms. In recent days, 14 people have been killed, several injured or missing, and thousands have had to leave their homes behind.
Many roads have been swallowed up by the masses of water and have to be completely rebuilt, reports the Ansa news agency. Entire fields and buildings have also disappeared. According to information from the Italian daily La Stampa, the level of the Po has also risen significantly. Just a few weeks ago, Italy's longest river was still suffering from the ongoing drought.
The greatest concern for the authorities and people on the ground is currently further landslides. According to experts, the danger of this is great.
Severe damage in Italy due to storms – "Area is bombed"
First reported on 21 May, 8.25 a.m.: Rome – After the heavy rains of the past few days, Italy continues to suffer from sometimes dramatic floods and landslides. The Adriatic region of Emilia-Romagna is particularly affected. 14 people have died so far, some are still missing. More than 36,000 people have now had to leave their homes, according to the authorities.
During the clean-up work in Italy, more and more severe damage is revealed. The vice-president of the region, Irene Priolo, estimates this at several billion euros. "The area is bombed," Priolo said. In some places, the "road network has to be completely rebuilt". The Foreign Office recently even issued a warning for Italy.
People ride bicycles along a flooded road. After the storms and floods in Italy, the number of victims has risen to 14. © Luca Bruno/dpa
Italy: Storm damage in almost 100 municipalities
Almost 100 municipalities are affected by the damage caused by the storms. A video went viral on social media showing an affected woman. She stands in a street blocked by masses of mud and tells how she lost her home to the heavy masses of water. "We'll never get out of this tragedy, it's a disaster. How can you not have a house?" Near Ravenna, helpers crashed in the flooded area with the helicopter. After all, they were lucky and survived.
The risk of landslides also persists. Due to the heavy rainfall, the balance of the slopes has changed, Andrea Billi from the Institute of Environmental Geology told SKY TG24. More than 305 landslides have been reported in Emilia-Romagna so far.
Floods and storms in Italy: the south of the country also affected
But other Italian regions are also affected by the storms. In the Piedmont region in the north of the country, there is sometimes heavy rainfall, there is an orange alert. The southern region of Calabria, on the other hand, is struggling with strong winds. According to the authorities, a man was killed by a fallen tree in the city of Reggio Calabria. On the holiday island of Sicily, firefighters moved out to more than 100 missions in the face of unstable trees and water damage.
Floods in Italy, drought in Spain and water shortages in France: travellers should pay attention to a few things on their next holiday. (kas/dpa)
Transparency note: An earlier version stated that the Federal Foreign Office had issued a travel warning. This is not the case. It is a travel advice intended to draw attention to the special situation on site.