Evacuations and rescues after floods in Emilia Romagna, Italy - 2 dead after "Unprecedented" floods - 7 inches of rain in 24 hours (UPDATE)

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Wed, 03 May 2023 10:15 UTC

© Vigili del Fuoco

Floods in Emilia Romagna, Italy, May 2023

Firefighters in Italy have carried out dozens of rescues and evacuations after flooding and landslides in areas of the Emilia Romagna region.

On 03 May 2023, Vigili del Fuoco, the fire and rescue department in Italy, reported 400 interventions due to flooding and landslides in the Emilia Romagna region in the north of the country.

News agency ANSA reported over 250 people have evacuated their homes in affected areas, including in Faenza in the province of Ravenna after an embankment along the Lamone River failed. Homes were also evacuated after flooding in the Monzuno and Castel San Pietro communes in the Metropolitan City of Bologna. Twelve residents of homes in the Dovadola comune in the Province of Forlì-Cesena were evacuated as a precaution due to a landslide.

Several people were rescued in Ponticelli in the Metropolitan City of Bologna, situated close to the Santerno River. One man was rescued from the roof of his vehicle after becoming trapped by floodwater from the Quaresimi stream in San Bartolomeo in Reggio Emilia Province.

Firefighters were searching through the debris of a collapsed house in Fontanelice following a landslide. One person was feared to be inside the house at the time.

Comment: Update May 4

The same source reports:

At least 2 fatalities have been reported as a result of severe flooding and landslides in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.

President of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Stefano Bonaccini, described the situation as unprecedented. Levels of the Lamone River jumped by over 10 metres in less than 24 hours. Areas of Bologna Province recorded more than 190 mm of rain in 24 hours.

© Regione Emilia-Romagna

Floods in Emilia-Romagna Italy, 03 May 2023.

The worst affected areas are in the provinces of Bologna, Ravenna and Forlì-Cesena. Teams from Vigil del Fuoco, Italy's fire and rescue service, are continuing to carry out rescues by boat and helicopter, most recently in Sant'Agata Sul Santerno in the Province of Ravenna. Three hundred firefighters have carried out over 500 interventions since the start of the severe weather. Around 500 people have evacuated their homes. Schools have been closed and rail transport disrupted.

Vigil del Fuoco confirmed one person died after a landslide buried a house in Fontanelice in Bologna Province. There were unconfirmed reports of another person missing under the rubble. Another person died after being swept away by floodwaters of the overflowing Senio River in Castel Bolognese, Province of Ravenna.

President of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Stefano Bonaccini, said in a statement that never had so much water fallen in such a short time in the region, and the situation "has no historical precedent." He confirmed that the region has requested a national state of emergency from the Italian government.

Incessant rain for more than 48 hours caused rivers to break their banks. Botteghino di Zocca in the Metropolitan City of Bologna area recorded 198.2 mm of rain in 24 hours on 02 May. The town of Ponticelli recorded 163.8 mm during the same period.

Emilia-Romagna Civil Protection said that at one point on 03 May, as many as 13 rivers were at the highest alert (red) stage. Until this point, levels of many of the region's watercourses had been low after a long-term dry period.

Authorities said flooding along the Lamone River in areas near Bagnacavallo was of particular concern. An embankment along the Lamone River failed in Faenza in the province of Ravenna.

Levels of the Lamone River near Pieve Cesato, Province of Ravenna jumped from around 1 metre early on 02 May to over 11 metres by early 03 May, according to data from Arpae Emilia-Romagna.