About a thousand people have been evacuated from their homes in Italy’s Northern Region of Emilia-Romagna after devastating floods and landslides.
The flooding was triggered by Storm Boris, which had previously wreaked havoc in Central and Eastern Europe, leaving at least 24 people dead.
Torrential rain swept through the same areas of Emilia-Romagna that were badly affected by floods in May 2023, which killed 17 people and caused damage of 8.5 billion euros.
Schools in the region have been closed, rail lines have been cut and some roads have been blocked by landslides.
Firefighters have carried out more than 500 rescue operations, including the use of helicopters to rescue people from flooded homes.
” We are in a complete emergency, the event is similar to the one we had last May, ” Ravenna Mayor Michele de Pascale said.
However, no deaths have been reported from the recent floods, which have also affected parts of the neighbouring Marche region.
Anger is growing among residents over the slow progress of works aimed at helping protect the region from flooding.
“My house has been destroyed once again,” said a resident in Faenza.
” It’s shameful, politicians don’t do anything, ” he added.
Extreme rainfall is becoming more common due to human-caused climate change in most parts of the world.
Italy is one of the most dangerous countries in Europe.
This summer alone, it has endured unprecedented heat waves, droughts, wildfires, storms and severe flooding.
Angelo Bonelli, who leads the leftist Alleanza Verdi and Sinistra party, asked melon to explain her government’s strategy in addressing the climate crisis.
“There is no will to confront the climate crisis,” Angelo said.
“The truth is that the climate crisis causes economic damage. The issue of climate should not have a political characterization. Unfortunately, it is an objective fact that we have to face. The prime minister, Meloni, should tell parliament which initiatives she intends to adopt,” he added.
Meanwhile, MP Alice Buonguerrieri said she would file a complaint with prosecutors “to determine responsibility” for the recent floods.
It claims that the region’s centre-left authorities have spent only 49 million euros out of 130 million euros allocated by the government last year to build flood defences.
In Eastern and Central Europe, the floods were the worst in two decades.
At least 24 people have died-five in the Czech Republic, seven in Romania, seven in Poland and five in Austria.
Damage is estimated to be worth billions of euros, with roads, bridges and rail lines destroyed and entire neighborhoods submerged in water.
