The Italian authorities, through its Civil Protection department, sent a red alert to the population on Monday before the possible floods that are expected over the next few days in the area of Emilia Romagna, region that gives its name to the sixth stop of the Formula 1 World Championship calendar that this weekend will be held at the Imola circuit. The Government has decreed the closure of schools in the province, which only a few weeks ago was already punished with a violent storm that caused the overflow of several rivers and left several dead, and rail transport has also been interrupted. Salvamento has had to rescue several people in Riccione and Rimini, two towns on the Adriatic Coast, and interventions have also been carried out in Faenza, Cesena and Forlì.
On Tuesday afternoon, the staff of the F1 teams that had already arrived at the track, mostly truckers, mechanics and people linked to the hospitality divisions, were ordered to evacuate the paddock, which in which areas already began to accumulate considerable levels of water if we take as reference some photographs posted on social networks. The forecasts estimate for the next few hours amounts of up to 150 millimeters of rain, and the possibility that the Santerno River, adjacent to the track, collapses, a circumstance that could even jeopardize the celebration of the race.
The prospects are somewhat better from Thursday, the day in which the previous test will start, even though the cars will not roll until Friday morning. Unless the intensity of the downpour does not subside, it is most likely that the event will go ahead, although in no case is it ruled out that the organization of the grand prix takes some measures to avoid, depending on what situations of risk, especially for the thousands of fans who this weekend have planned to move to the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. From the different departments linked to the race, plans are being studied to make it easier for spectators who approach with their vehicles to have a place to park them, given that accesses and different parking areas may also be affected.
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