Floods in Nuoro Province, Sardinia, 02 May 2018
© Vigili del FuocoFloods in Nuoro Province, Sardinia, 02 May 2018
Two days of heavy rain has caused flooding and landslides in Sardinia, Italy. Around 100 people have been evacuated from their homes. In the last 48 hours some areas have recorded over 150 mm of rain - more than four times the average monthly total for May.

Schools have been closed in several areas of the island due to the bad weather. Flooding and landslides have closed roads in the Municipality of Villacidro and near Cagliari.

Two families were evacuated as a precaution in Villacidro, South Sardinia Province. Around 100 people (20 families) have been evacuated in Torpé in Nuoro Province as a precaution due to rising levels of the Posada river.

Firefighters were called to over 60 interventions in Cagliari and surrounding areas. Emergency services also rescued farm workers who were stranded by flooding in Nuoro Province.

The Tirso river broke its banks in several places in Oristano province and the Flumini Mannu flooded fields in San Nicolò d'Arcidano, also in Oristano.

In Siniscola, Nuoro Province, as much as 164 mm of rain fell in 48 hours to early 03 May, which is considerably more than the May monthly average (36 mm) and already a good proportion of the typical annual rainfall (around 660 mm), according to ANSA.

A red level weather alert remains in place in Sardinia and Civil Protection have warned of further heavy rain, strong winds and thunderstorms in Sardinia and across the country, in particular Emilia-Romagna, Piedmont, Abruzzo, Molise, Campania, Basilicata and Puglia.

In Sicily, the Regional Civil Protection has issued a yellow warning for possible flooding and heavy rain.

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