Italy – Floods Ease in North, 2 Missing After Storm in Sicily

The flood situation appears to be easing in north west Italy, although hundreds still remain displaced. Meanwhile severe weather in the south of the country has affected parts of Sicily where local media say that at least 2 people are missing as a result.

Piedmont and Liguria

It was feared that parts of northern Italy could be facing some of the worst flooding in 20 years  after some areas reocrded over 200mm of rain in around 12 hours.

At one point, authorities had issued warnings for all but a few rivers in the region, including the Po, Tanaro, Bormida, Pellice and Dora Riparia rivers.

As of 28 November, the flood situation appears to be easing after two days without rain. Between 21 to 24 November, rainfall levels had been greater than those of the disastrous floods in north west Italy on 1994.

Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione Ambientale (ARPA) in Piedmont reported earlier today that all river levels have now returned to within normal ranges and now flood warnings remain.

The death toll from the recent flooding in Italy reportedly now stands at two. The body of a man who was missing on Friday has been found in the swollen Chisone river in Perosa Argentina, according to local media. A man, believed to be a homeless migrant, was swept away by the overflowing Roia river in Ventimiglia and was missing, presumed drowned.

Sicily

Meanwhile a storm in Sicily has caused flooding on the island for the second time in a week.

Over 160 mm of rain fell in just 3 hours yesterday, 19 November, 2016, causing major flooding in the city of Licata, the province of Agrigento, on the south coast of Sicily at the mouth of the Salso River.

Days later the province of Agrigento once again recorded extreme levels of rain on 25 November, 2016. The towns of Sciacca and Ribera are reportedly the worst affected. Parts of the province of Messina were also badly affected. Local media report that the storm and heavy rain has caused widespread damage to citrus farms in the area.

ANSA news agency reports that two people have been missing since the storm, believed to have been swept away by floodwater.

Maps of Flooding in Northern Italy

The Copernicus Emergency Management Service was activated by Italian Civil Protection on 24 November.

Copernicus has produced dozens of maps of the flooded areas, including in Alessandria and Asti. The full range of flood maps can be found here.

Breaking NewsItaly