Over 36,000 people displaced by Italy floods
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A sports hall in Castel Bolognese, near Ravenna, set up to accommodate flood-hit residents from the Emilia-Romagna region.
PHOTO: AFP
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GHIBULLO – More than 36,000 people have now been forced from their homes by deadly floods in north-east Italy, regional officials said on Saturday, as rising waters swallowed more houses and fresh landslides isolated hamlets.
Violent downpours last week killed 14 people,
As more rain fell, the regional authorities extended the red weather alert to Sunday.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Saturday that she was leaving the Group of Seven (G-7) summit in Japan early to deal with the emergency.
“Frankly, I cannot remain so far from Italy in such a complex moment,” she told reporters, thanking the 5,000 people – from rescue workers to volunteers – mobilised to help those hit by the floods.
She also thanked her fellow G-7 leaders for their offers of aid.
Ms Meloni was expected to visit some of the worst-hit areas on Sunday.
The authorities in Ravenna on Saturday ordered the immediate evacuation of more at-risk hamlets.
A helicopter involved in attempts to restore electricity crashed on Saturday near Lugo, injuring one of the four people on board, the fire service said.
The floods have caused more than 305 landslides, and damaged or closed more than 500 roads in the region.
The water began to rise “at 2pm (on Friday), coming from across the fields”, after nearby canals were swollen by flooded rivers, electrician Mauro Lodola told AFP.
“It’s difficult. I want it to be over quickly, to be able to go forward... to pick ourselves up,” the 54-year-old said, standing thigh-high in the dirty water surrounding his house.
Mr Lodola choked up as he showed his ruined house, the water lapping around the fridge in the kitchen and against the mattress on his bed, which was piled high with salvaged furniture.
Outside, a white door floated past a shed, where chickens that had been moved to safety clucked nervously.
Bologna Mayor Matteo Lepore said on Saturday that it would take “months and, in some places, maybe years” for roads and infrastructure to be repaired. AFP
