Italy – Floods in Tuscany After 50mm of Rain in 3 Hours

Homes and businesses were flooded yesterday in Tuscany, Italy, after an intense storm dumped over 50 mm of rain in about 3 hours.

The storm hit during the afternoon of 08 May, 2018, flooding areas near Sinalunga (Siena province), San Polo in Chianti (Florence) and Volterra (Pisa).

In San Polo, local civil protection said that two small rivers – the Robiana and the Ema – overflowed, and that roads, houses, shops and other businesses were damaged by the flood water that reached over 1 metre deep. Further damage was caused by a landslide which blocked a road just outside the town.

As of 09 May, the flood waters had receded but parts of the town are still covered in deep mud and debris. Local authorities, volunteers and civil protection are working to clean up the town.

In Volterra, fire crews were called on to rescue two people trapped in their homes by flood water, according to ANSA news agency. Roads have been flooded in the area, leaving some homes isolated.

ANSA reported that a family evacuated a house La Fratta, Siena province, after a nearby stream threated to overflow. Tuscany’s regional government said that the Galegno river overflowed, flooding parts of Torrita di Siena and Sinalunga.