07:41 18 May
Zaia signs a decree of state of emergency
The President of the Veneto Region Luca Zaia signed the Decree of State of Emergency for the exceptional adverse weather conditions that occurred on Tuesday 16 May and yesterday, 17 May, in the territories of the province of Rovigo and the Metropolitan City of Venice (n. 33 of 17/05/2023 bearing "Exceptional adverse weather conditions occurring on 16 and 17 May 2023 in the territories of the province of Rovigo and the Metropolitan City of Venice. Declaration of the state of crisis following the criticalities encountered".)" After the recognition of the damage carried out by the regional structures, - said the President -, the areas of the territory most affected by the intense rainfall of these days were identified, which caused damage especially to coastal areas. No critical issues have emerged that have directly involved the safety of citizens but the bad weather, which hit mercilessly in Emilia Romagna, has also affected Veneto, fortunately in a more mitigated way, still leaving its mark ".
"The heavy rains and wind - he explained - have hit, in particular, the central-southern coast, up to the Po Delta and the neighboring plain between the Lower Venetian and the Lower Polesine, beyond the area of Bibione and the beaches of the neighboring territories. Here, in fact, there have been frequent downpours with total quantities also abundant, up to maximums of about 50-70 mm. In addition, the persistence of the cyclonic area has determined in the same areas a significant reinforcement of the winds from the eastern quadrants since the early hours of Tuesday 16. There have been numerous and widespread interventions by the Fire Brigade and the regional Civil Protection." The bad weather - added President Zaia - also caused a sustained tide on the Upper Adriatic, where the winds blew strongly throughout the day, in particular along the coast, with average intensity mainly between 10 and 15 m / s, at times even around 16-18 m / s and with maximum gusts of 25-26 m / s ". Affected our beaches that have suffered the removal of important cubic meters of sand and the accumulation of important quantities of waste, especially wood. We are from Veneto and, as our DNA teaches us, we are already rolling up our sleeves: some mayors have told me that they have already begun to clean up to bring the coast back to normal, ready to welcome tourists with open arms and start the new summer season in the best possible way".
07:39 18 May
Imola, the images of the Enzo and Dino Ferrari racetrack invaded by water
"I would never have been at ease with my conscience if only we had tried to continue the Grand Prix, it would have been madness to go on. Undoing it was the only right thing to do." Stefano Domenicali, president of Formula 1, told Corriere della Sera about the cancellation of the Imola GP scheduled for the weekend due to bad weather in Emilia Romagna. "When you see the images of the devastation on TV, when there are victims, when you touch the situation with your own hands talking to friends who have been evacuated or who have lost their belongings, the last thing that comes to mind is Formula 1. Before leaving for London I will spend some time with my parents, and with my sister. Everyone around here is shaken, even if here the situation is not as critical as in other places", he adds.
07:39 18 May
Emilia Romagna still red alert, the point of the morning
Emilia Romagna wakes up in the mud and the desire to get up from the mud. After the floods that have disfigured cities and small municipalities, landslides and landslides are feared. The rescue machine never shuts down because the priority is to keep citizens safe. At the same time, the (enormous) damage count begins with many companies left on their knees. The massacre of bad weather made 9 victims. Thousands of people are homeless and the number of possible missing people has not yet been defined. A "new earthquake" says the President of the Region Stefano Bonaccini, just a few days before the anniversary of the 2012 earthquake. Meanwhile, even if heavy rainfall is not expected today, the red alert for flooding of rivers and landslides throughout Romagna, the plains of Bologna and Modena, the mountain hills of central Emilia and Bologna is confirmed. Orange alert on the plains and coast of Ferrara. And schools still closed. Another night of rescue and another night of fear. In Ravenna, the Municipality has asked residents of some areas to go up to the upper floors due to new flooding.
The flood devastated entire cities. 23 rivers were flooded, 280 landslides and over 400 roads were interrupted. The municipalities affected by the flood are 41 and over 20 thousand displaced mainly from the provinces of Bologna, Forlì-Cesena and Ravenna. Clods of earth and trees falling like skittles on the road, people sheltered on the roof, elderly and children rescued with rubber dinghies, roads turned into swamps. The old trees leave only a green tuft visible to the cameras. The houses look like red boats in the middle of the slime. Images that have been around the world. The reality has exceeded the worst forecasts: in some areas more rain fell in 36 hours than the average for the entire month of May.
Underwater Faenza, Cesena, Forlì, some areas of Ravenna as well as smaller municipalities and even the arcades of the central Via Saffi in Bologna have been flooded. Electrical blackouts, telephone lines out of order, trains in tilt: the anguish fueled by the isolation of entire areas. The fury of the Savio river dragged a woman from Ronta di Cesena for twenty kilometers. The body of the 60-year-old was found yesterday morning on the beach of Cesenatico. Her husband, 70, also died. They left home to check the condition of their farm and were overwhelmed by water. Romagna is submerged, floundering but clings to every anchor (1200 volunteers, dinghies, helicopters, 600 firefighters) not to sink. Waiting for the CDM next Tuesday that will launch measures to support the territory, reconstruction (as happened for the earthquake) is in the hands of citizens. Rubber boots, knee-length pants and buckets in hand. Away with the water (now) as it was for the rubble (11 years ago) for a land that wants to get up at any cost.
07:39 18 May
Bagnacavallo, the industrial area is under water. Millions of euros in damage to the agricultural sector across the region
07:38 18 May
Municipality of Ravenna, inhabitants Villanova go up to upper floors
"Notice to the population of Villanova di Ravenna: it is recommended to go up to the upper floors". This is what we read on the Facebook profile of the Municipality of Ravenna in an update at 2.50 am after the dramatic situation caused by bad weather in the region. "There are - it is reported - rises in the water levels of the magnificent canal that are generating overflows and flooding of the surrounding areas. For this reason it is recommended to go up to the upper floors. Those who do not feel safe can go to the headquarters of the city committee of Villanova di Ravenna or in the reception area set up at the Cinemacity, in via Secondo Bini 7 in Ravenna. Updates will follow if necessary."
07:37 18 May
The critical issues in today's bulletin of the Civil Protection
Civil Protection Department
Weather warnings in Italy
07:37 18 May
Luca Mercalli, climatologist, to Rainews24: "It's not a normal rain"
07:35 18 May
Municipality of Ravenna, flooding due to overloaded canals
Flooding during the night occurred in some municipalities of Ravenna where the Municipality recommended the inhabitants to go up to the upper floors of the houses. The fracture of the Lamone river between Reda and Fossolo (Faenza) has overloaded the Emilia-Romagna Canal and the entire secondary network of consortium canals and is flooding significant parts of the countryside. During the night, explains the Municipality of Ravenna, there were floods in Russi, Godo, San Pancrazio and Villanova di Ravenna. During the night the Municipality of Ravenna is promptly on site, with the support of the local police: it has proceeded to inform the citizens of Villanova di Ravenna, in collaboration with the citizen committee, of the phenomenon in progress, inviting them to go to the upper floors, offering to those who were unable to do so the first floor of the civic center headquarters, open extraordinarily, or accommodation at Cinemacity. Further precautionary actions will be assessed as early as today. The Municipality and the Consorzio di Bonifica della Romagna "are keeping the situation under observation, but all the realities that insist in the territory ranging from the Giannello drain to the Drittolo drain must immediately be considered pre-alerted and at risk of flooding; not immediately, but attention should still be paid mainly to those west of the state road adjacent to the Cupa / Magni canal and also the area of Fornace Zarattini ".
07:35 18 May
Forlì, there is still no electricity in many areas
"Many of you report the lack of electricity in many streets and areas of the city. We are in constant contact with the operator to speed up the restoration of meters and electrical panels". This is the message of Gian Luca Zattini, mayor of Forlì, one of the municipalities most affected by the flood.
"We are doing our best but it doesn't all depend on us," explains the mayor. Entire areas of Romagna remained isolated, with electricity blackouts and difficulties also in communications due to the interruption of telephone lines.
07:35 18 May
The Via Emilia becomes a river: an entire stream instead of asphalt
07:33 18 May
Alarm in Villanova di Ravenna. The Municipality: "Going up to the upper floors"
"It is recommended to go up to the upper floors": this is the message that the Municipality of Ravenna sent during the night through social channels to the residents of Villanova di Ravenna, a hamlet of the Romagna city.
"There are rises in the water levels of the Magni canal - explains the Municipality - which are generating overflows and flooding of the surrounding areas. For this reason it is recommended to go up to the upper floors. Those who do not feel safe can go to the headquarters of the city committee of Villanova di Ravenna or to the reception area set up at the Cinemacity, in via Secondo Bini 7 in Ravenna ".
07:33 18 May
Ravenna, the rescue of a pregnant woman carried out by the Coast Guard
07:33 18 May
The prefect of Ravenna: "20 thousand evacuees, let's work to save everyone"
07:31 18 May
Carabinieri rescue two elderly people after swimming to them, Faenza
Handle
Carabinieri rescue two elderly people after swimming to them, Faenza
07:31 18 May
Musumeci: In 50 years 5 thousand victims and 140 billion spent on disasters, prevention is needed
"Since the Belice earthquake in 1968 we have spent over 140 billion euros and mourned over 5 thousand victims. A good prevention would have reduced the material and human damage, we must prevent with a concrete plan that identifies the weakest structures, times, necessary resources - if we do not start from this data we will continue to mourn deaths". So the Minister for Civil Protection and Sea Policies, Nello Musumeci, during the episode of Porta a Porta.
07:31 18 May
Emilia Romagna devastated by flooding: 9 dead, 13 thousand evacuated
There are nine victims of the flood that hit Emilia-Romagna, with 300 mm of rain in 48 hours falling in Forlì and 21 rivers flooded. Three dead in Forlì, one, overwhelmed by a landslide, in the Cesenate, and two spouses in Ronta di Cesena, overwhelmed by the water, with the woman dragged by the flood for 20 km. The symbolic image of the rescue is that of the carabiniere with an elderly man on his shoulders, while together with other colleagues he carries him by swimming after rescuing him in an area flooded by the Lamone. The President of the Region Stefano Bonaccini also reported some missing. About 4 thousand displaced. Musumeci: "I will propose another 20 million for the E-R", 30 million in all. In Faenza some areas reachable only by boat. Schools closed tomorrow in most of the affected municipalities. The F1 Imola Grand Prix was cancelled over the weekend by decision of the organizers. Instead, Bruce Springsteen's concert in Ferrara should take place regularly tomorrow. But Piantedosi brakes: "We have not yet decided". Tuesday 23 Council of Ministers on the bad weather emergency.