Italian authorities reported that the toll had risen to 13 as heavy rainfall and floods swept across the region over the past two days. In Emilia Romagna, located in the northeast of the country, at least one person remains missing, and authorities cautioned that the number could climb as search efforts continue in the hardest hit areas. Source: Italian authorities.
Updates from Ravenna province show the death count reaching nine by Wednesday, with emergency services persisting in evacuating residents and searching flooded zones. Local officials urged continued vigilance as weather conditions remained unsettled and the potential for renewed rainfall could complicate recovery operations. Source: Italian authorities.
More than 20,000 residents have been evacuated as floodwaters overflowed more than 20 rivers and triggered blockades along some routes. About 400 highways were reported affected by the disruptions, and the regional power grid left around 27,000 people without electricity on Thursday. Crews worked to restore service while authorities urged people to stay away from floodwaters. Source: Italian authorities.
Carabinieri and firefighters noted extensive response efforts, with roughly 3,000 interventions recorded by the Carabinieri and estimates of 2,000 firefighter operations across Emilia Romagna and neighboring Marche over the past two days. These figures reflect the magnitude of the storm and the scale of the emergency response. Source: Italian authorities.
Coast Guard officials confirmed that three Nemo model helicopters were deployed in the affected area. They completed a total of 16 missions and successfully evacuated 37 people, including elderly citizens and children, under challenging conditions. Source: Italian authorities.
Underwater rescue teams reported saving at least 28 people, and many animals were recovered from inundated zones. Divers also distributed emergency food and medicines to save lives, the Coast Guard noted in a formal statement. Source: Italian authorities.
Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin indicated in a radio interview that the government plans to declare a state of disaster for Emilia Romagna and the northern Marche region next Tuesday. The administration pledged initial emergency aid and promised to ease burdens such as mortgage payments and taxes for victims, while continuing to mobilize resources for immediate relief. Source: Italian authorities.
Head of the Emilia Romagna region, Stefano Bonaccini, publicly thanked RAI for the earlier announcement of 30 million in aid but stressed that the losses amount to billions of euros. He reminded the public that in less than 48 hours, the rainfall had equaled the average for six months in the region, underscoring the exceptional severity of the event. Source: Italian authorities.