Italian authorities announced on Wednesday that nine people have died and thousands have been evacuated from their homes as devastating floods swept through the Emilia-Romagna region of the country, warning that the worst is yet to come. Titti Buffoni, deputy head of the civil protection agency, told Sky TG24 news, "The rainfall has not finished yet; it will continue for several hours. We are facing a very complex situation." Stefano Bonaccini, the mayor of the Emilia-Romagna area, stated, "We are facing catastrophic events that have hardly ever been seen in the country... enormous amounts of heavy rain have fallen on the land, which can no longer absorb it."
Local authorities reported that the flood has affected 37 towns, leading to around 120 landslides. Some roads have been damaged, and many railway services have been suspended. Deputy President of Emilia-Romagna, Ireni Priolo, noted that eight bodies have been recovered from various areas. Several rivers have overflowed on their banks in the eastern part of the region bordering the Adriatic Sea, forcing people in cities like Cesena to climb onto rooftops where they were rescued by firefighters using helicopters or inflatable boats. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her "full solidarity with the affected residents," stating on Twitter that the government is closely monitoring the situation and ready to provide assistance.
