Italy – Floods in South Leave 2 Dead, 1 Missing

At least 2 people died in flash flooding in Italy after severe weather in southern parts of the country.

Firefighters found the bodies of the victims in a swollen river near Lamezia Terme, between the towns of San Pietro a Maida and San Pietro Lametino in Calabria on 05 October, 2018. The victims – thought to be a mother and her child – were in a vehicle that was swept away by flood waters. Rescuers are searching for one other child who is missing in the floods.

Other areas of Calabria were also hit by flooding and landslides. Several families were forced to evacuate their homes and people were rescued after they climbed onto the rooftops of houses to escape the flooding.

Italian news agency ANSA said that the Ponte delle Grazie bridge on provincial highway 19 in the area collapsed during the storms.

President of Calabria Region, Mario Oliverio, visited Monterosso Calabro and Polia, in the Province of Vibo Valentia, which were among the worst hit areas.

Vigili del Fuoco, Italy’s National Firefighters Corps, reported major flooding in Ciró Marina, Petilia de Policastro, Strongoli, Cotronei and Isola di Capo Rizzuto.

At least 10 people died in flash flooding in the region in August this year.

Severe flooding was also reported in areas around the city of Catania in Sicily, where local media reported that 50mm of rain fell in just 20 minutes in Catania, Sicily, on 05 October.

Rainfall

ARPA Calabria said that heavy rain began on 02 October. By 04 October several areas had seen more than 150 mm of rain.

The heaviest rainfall fell from 04 October. Dozens of locations recorded more than 100 mm of rain in 24 hours to 05 October, 2018. Monterosso Calabro recorded 270 mm of rain during the same period. The highest total was in Cenadi, which saw 387 mm of rain.

Local media reported that 50mm of rain fell in just 20 minutes in Catania, Sicily, on 05 October. Etna recorded 120mm of rain fell and Syracuse 135 mm of rain in 36 hours to 05 October.

Over the last few days heavy rainfall has also affected parts of northern Africa and areas along the Adriatic Coast, including Dubrovnik in Croatia.

Social Media

#Catanzaro #5ott 15:00, dopo il recupero dei corpi senza vita di mamma e bambino, proseguono le ricerche dei #vigilidelfuoco dell’altro bambino disperso a San Pietro Lametino pic.twitter.com/sTA6EVOQrq

— Vigili del Fuoco (@emergenzavvf) October 5, 2018

#Maltempo #Calabria #6ott, ancora in corso interventi dei #vigilidefuoco: nella clip la ricognizione aerea dell’elicottero #dragovf 68 sui comuni di #Polia e #Monterosso nella provincia di #ViboValentia pic.twitter.com/tHOLoUFJWZ

— Vigili del Fuoco (@emergenzavvf) October 6, 2018

#6ott, proseguono gli interventi per #maltempo dei #vigilidelfuoco in #Calabria. Nella clip le operazioni di prosciugamento in atto a #DavoliMarina (CZ) per l’esondazione del torrente Ficarazzo pic.twitter.com/ABhYh33Tra

— Vigili del Fuoco (@emergenzavvf) October 6, 2018

Twitter#Maltempo #Calabria aggiornamento #6ott 15:00: ancora in corso interventi dei #vigilidefuoco, proseguono le ricerche del bambino disperso a San Pietro Lametino. Nella clip ricognizione aerea elicottero #dragovf 68 pic.twitter.com/kEQ5LyCFil

— Vigili del Fuoco (@emergenzavvf) October 6, 2018

#Maltempo #Calabria #5ott, interventi nel crotonese: maggiori criticità a Ciró Marina, Petilia, Strangoli, Cotronei, Isola CapoRizzuto per allagamenti. Nella clip il salvataggio di 250 cani da parte del soccorso acquatico dei #vigilidelfuoco pic.twitter.com/PQMR8DHpEd

— Vigili del Fuoco (@emergenzavvf) October 5, 2018

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