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Italy floods kill 13, destroy homes.

Brooke MalloryMay 18, 2023

Italy Devastated by Catastrophic Floods

After six months’ worth of rain fell in just 36 hours, more than 20 rivers in Italy burst their banks, resulting in the deaths of 13 people and displacing thousands of others from their homes. The floods caused catastrophic damage, costing residents their houses, livestock, gardens, farmland, valuables, and in some cases, their own lives.

The Aftermath

After nearly every river between Bologna and the north-east coast overflowed, more bodies were discovered, and there have been 280 landslides so far. The mayor of Ravenna, a severely flooded city, made a statement saying that this was the biggest calamity for the area in a century.

One local homeowner, a 97-year-old woman who was forced to leave her bedroom in a rubber raft, was reportedly assisted by firefighters in order to safely vacate her residence. Another resident, 71-year-old Roberta Lazzarini, said, “It was a very bad 48 hours. Water and mud took over our whole village.”

The Damage

The floods have devastated several towns and villages in the Emilia-Romagna area, not just by rivers, but also by overflowing canals. The Emilia-Romagna region’s regional president, Stefano Bonaccini, estimated that the damage expenses could be in the billions (euros).

Due to the numerous flooded roadways and power outages in many communities, rescue operations have proven challenging. The only assistance some residents have received was from neighbors.

The Response

There is a growing consensus that Italy will require a new national “climate change response strategy.” The administration of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has scheduled a crisis meeting for next Tuesday.

Former vice-president of Emilia-Romagna, Elly Schlein, claimed that previous administrations had repeatedly failed to handle Italy’s susceptibility to flooding and other extreme water events like droughts.

It is clear that Italy needs to take action to prevent future disasters like this one.