ROME (AP) –Tens of thousands of residents were evacuated from the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna as torrential rains and severe flooding swept the area overnight, local media reported. Severe weather conditions caused rivers to overflow in the Ravenna, Bologna, and Faenza provinces, prompting urgent evacuation orders and safety advisories by provincial authorities.

Some 800 residents in Ravenna are seeking refuge in schools, sports centers, and shelters as the overflow of waters from flooded nearby neighborhoods comes into their homes. In Bologna province, over 190 people had to be evacuated to safer places.

Most areas in the region have been adversely affected by the floods in which most train services have been suspended and most schools closed. Hordes of people were advised to work from home and keep indoors because of hazardous conditions.

The renewed threats were in the region of Faenza, which was hit hard by devastating floods in May 2023 when it took the lives of 17 people and caused billions of euros worth of damage.

The mayor of Faenza Massimo Isola described the night as “dramatic,” reporting that the city braced for potential flooding as river levels approached critical limits. But it’s mentioned that due to the measures of preventing a flood within the city center, the city avoided a considerable overflow within the city center during the past year.(more)

The flooding in Emilia-Romagna is the latest instance of devastating weather hitting Central and Eastern Europe. Other nations that have suffered severe flooding events in recent days include Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania. The death toll from these countries has reached more than 20 people, an expression of the crisis.

The emergency services of Emilia-Romagna are highly alerted, with 24-hour services to handle the situation and help the victims. Now, the more urgent issue is that of how to handle the initial emergency response to the flooding, relocating people into safety, and further damage from the weather.

As Italy struggles to come to terms with the aftermath of this deluge, the reaction of the region to the flooding will prove key in preventing further loss and helping in the recovery process. The European continent needs to keep watching and preparing for the occurrences of such weather events owing to the erratic climate patterns now being confronted.