Heavy rain in northern Italy over the last few days has caused rivers to break their banks in the region of Emilia-Romagna and reactivated a landslide in Veneto Region.
Emilia-Romagna
Italian news agency ANSA reported that parts of the northern region of Emilia-Romagna have been put on red alert for floods due to the risk of rivers bursting their banks because of torrential rain.
The Bologna-Rimini train line was closed between Cesena and Forlì as a precaution on Monday, 13 May, 2019. Flood waters caused a bridge to collapse in Verucchio, in the Province of Rimini. Vigili del Fuoco, the Italian Fire Service, reported that two people were rescued from their flooded home in Cesena.
Vigili del Fuoco also reported that the Montone river broke its banks on 13 May, flooding wide areas around Villafranca-San Martino in the province of Forlì-Cesena.
Some evacuations were also carried out in the province of Modena due to the flood threat from the Secchia and Panaro rivers. Military personnel have been deployed to the area to help shore up temporary flood defences. Several bridges and schools have been closed as a precaution.
Italian Civil Protection said that several rivers are also high in Bologna Province, where several landslides have also occurred.
Rainfall and Rivers
According to the region’s meteorological agency Arpae Emilia-Romagna, several areas of the region recorded more than 100mm of rain in 24 hours on Sunday, 12 May, and some areas around 70 mm the next day.
The Savio River at Castiglione di Ravenna, near Cesena, Province of Ravenna, jumped from 1.53 metres on 12 May to 9.8 metres during the evening of Monday, 13 May. Red Alert level is 8 metres. Levels have since fallen to below 8 metres. The Montone river at Ponte Vico jumped from 1.5 metres on 12 May to 8.83 metres on the evening of 13 May.
Veneto Region
In Veneto Region, the recent heavy rains have reactivated a huge landslide in Schiucaz, a town in the municipal area of Alpago, Province of Belluno. According to Civil Protection, the landslide has moved forward since the heavy rain, threatening to bury the town with about 6,000 cubic meters of rocks and mud. Seventeen people have been evacuated from their homes.
Social Media
La #frana di Schiucaz in Alpago si è mossa di altri 50 centimetri in nottata, rallentando però rispetto alle prime 24 ore. I @vvfveneto stamattina hanno ripreso ad accompagnare gli abitanti nelle case perchè possano recuperare oggetti personali #ioseguoTgr pic.twitter.com/dyvIcDJ638
— Tgr Rai Veneto (@TgrRaiVeneto) May 14, 2019
#14maggio, all’alba di #oggi il canale Montone ha rotto l’argine a San Martino di Villafranca (FC): sezioni operative #vigilidelfuoco al lavoro per interventi di assistenza alla popolazione. Nella clip la ricognizione di stamani del #dragovf 121 sull’area colpita dall’esondazione pic.twitter.com/OKvJc8txPZ
— Vigili del Fuoco (@vigilidelfuoco) May 14, 2019
#Maltempo #ForlìCesena #13maggio 12:00, esondazione fiume Savio: proseguono i controlli dall’alto degli elicotteri dei #vigilidelfuoco pic.twitter.com/WgVlnfW9Uj
— Vigili del Fuoco (@vigilidelfuoco) May 13, 2019
#Maltempo #13maggio 9:30, esondato il fiume Savio in provincia di #ForlìCesena. Squadre fluviali #vigilidelfuoco al lavoro, recuperate due persone, un disabile con la badante, bloccate nella propria abitazione. Nelle immagini sorvolo dell’elicottero #Dragovf 121 pic.twitter.com/xq18WNxb1R
— Vigili del Fuoco (@vigilidelfuoco) May 13, 2019
