Climate events are making headlines this month with severe impact in Italy. For a second time in just a few weeks, torrential rainfall and river flooding have struck the Emilia Romagna region, especially in the north. In some areas, as much as 300 millimeters of rain drenched the landscape within a few hours. Authorities report a final toll that includes at least nine confirmed dead and several people still missing. More than 13,000 residents have been evacuated from their homes, and the rain shows no signs of letting up.
The disaster has produced scenes of urgency and drama. In Cesena, near the Apennine Mountains, many residents faced a race against time. Homes turned into makeshift shelters as streets transformed into rushing channels. People climbed onto rooftops, and neighbors pulled a woman and her young child from rising waters, guiding them through mud and flood to safety as the Savio River overflowed.
Similar emergencies unfolded in Castrocaro Terme, where firefighters deployed a helicopter to rescue several people, including two babies and their parents. The situation prompted officials to pause major events, with Formula 1 announcing the suspension of the Grand Prix slated for next weekend in Imola due to safety concerns. The Enzo and Dino Ferrari Autodrome facilities were evacuated on Tuesday as a precaution, underscoring the scale of the disruption.
the fault of the drought
The flooding has affected many communities that faced more than 21 rivers bursting their banks and a record of about 250 landslides across the region. In addition to the towns already mentioned, cities like Bologna, Forlì, Rimini, Ravenna, Capocolle di Bertinoro, and Riccione have reported extensive damage. Local emergency centers have been activated in hospitals, and regional rail services along with sections of the A14 motorway were temporarily halted to protect residents and responders.
Experts note that this sequence of events comes after a recent surge in extreme atmospheric conditions in the area. A few weeks earlier, another severe flood affected the Lamone River and its tributaries, prompting regional authorities to declare a state of emergency across the region. The latest round of rainfall has intensified concerns about infrastructure and the capacity of emergency services to reach affected communities quickly.
Authorities warn that the pattern of weather hazards is not isolated. Neighboring regions, including Piedmont, have also reported unsettled conditions that compound the risk of further flooding. At the same time, soil conditions that had dried out during drought periods are now less able to absorb new rainfall, amplifying runoff and flood potential. Data compiled over 24 hours show 16 severe storms across Emilia Romagna and four in the Marches, a clear indicator of how rapidly events can escalate in this part of the country.