At least three people have died in flash flooding that struck after heavy rain on the island of Sardinia, Italy, from 28 November 2020.
Three fatalities were reported in the municipality Bitti in Nuoro Province. Flood waters and mud swept through the streets of the town of Bitti. Heavy rain also caused landslides in the area. Roads, bridges, houses and vehicles have all been damaged or destroyed. Around 40 people were evacuated.
Italy’s Civil Protection said that the increase in the level of the reservoir of the “Pedra ‘e Othoni” dam, on the Cedrino river, prompted the evacuation of residents in the municipalities of Onifai, Galtellì and Orosei. Other evacuations were carried out in the municipalities of Oliena, Posada and Torpè.
Flooding and severe weather including strong winds affected other parts of the island. Italian fire and rescue service, Vigili del Fuoco, said on 29 November that it had responded to over 300 interventions over the last 36 hours, including 100 in Cagliari, 85 in Nuoro, 51 in Sassari and 85 in Oristano. Over 250 people have been rescued in total.
Local meteorology organisation, Sardegna Clima Onlus, reported that many areas recorded more than 150mm of rain. Villanova Strisaili in the Province of Nuoro recorded 364.6 mm of rain in 36 hours to late 28 November.
Social Media
Da 36 ore #vigilidelfuoco al lavoro per il #maltempo che ha interessato la #Sardegna, superati i 300 interventi: 100 a #Cagliari, 85 a #Nuoro, 51 a #Sassari e 85 a #Oristano. Nella clip il sorvolo dell’elicottero Drago sulle aree alluvionate di Bitti (NU) [#29novembre 15:00] pic.twitter.com/wiUVgem9b7
— Vigili del Fuoco (@emergenzavvf) November 29, 2020
Due gocce a Bitti pic.twitter.com/7byRtAsZBV
— Giovanni Bua (@giovanni_bua) November 28, 2020
#Maltempo #Bitti (NU), squadre e ruspe dei #vigilidelfuoco al lavoro stamattina per rimuovere i veicoli trascinati dalla furia dell’acqua e del fango nel centro del paese. 250 i soccorsi effettuati in tutta la #Sardegna dall’inizio dell’emergenza [#29novembre agg. 11:00] pic.twitter.com/CHrxzbPCbL
— Vigili del Fuoco (@emergenzavvf) November 29, 2020
