Emilia-Romagna and parts of Le Marche have been submerged in devastating floods over the past week. Highways are now rivers, fields of crops are lakes and many have been trapped in their homes. The areas around Faenza, Ravenna and Cesena have been hit the hardest, while Bologna and cities along the coast like Rimini and Riccione have also been affected.
After a year of historic drought, the flooding is yet another example of extreme weather striking 天美传媒. Such events are becoming increasingly common in a country that is alsoto reckon with the often tragic consequences.
Here鈥檚 what鈥檚 going on in the region known for its pasta, luxury cars and medieval villages 鈥 and a look at the bigger picture.
鈥淚n 36 hours, six months鈥 worth of water鈥
Drone footage in the center of Faenza / Produced by La Repubblica
Rescue efforts continue as waters begin to recede in some areas, and so far. Twenty-three rivers burst their banks and more than 10,000 people have been evacuated from their homes. The heavy rains have also caused landslides in the nearby Apennines, more than 280 according to the region. Coldiretti, the Italian Farmers Association, reported more than 5,000 farms affected by the flooding.
The first floods hit on May 2 and 3 and then a second wave began on May 16, which is still ongoing 鈥 an exceptional combination of events.
Stefano Bonaccini, President of the Emilia-Romagna region, said billions of euro in investment will be necessary to recover from the tragedy.
鈥淚n 36 hours, six months鈥 worth of water fell onto the same ground that just two weeks ago endured [another] four months鈥 worth of water,鈥 Bonaccini told SkyTG 24.
On her way to the G7 in Hiroshima, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni spoke with the Civil Defense, confirming her availability to convene the Council of Ministers to approve emergency measures.
鈥淭he government is here and standing beside all the people affected and local institutions,鈥 Meloni said.
Meanwhile, others couldn鈥檛 help but point out that the country鈥檚 preventive measures are still lacking, even as institutional awareness of the risks has been growing.
鈥淭his country has not yet faced the reality of its fragility from a hydrogeological and seismic point of view. In recent months there has been talk of changes to the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan). It would make sense to apply resources to prevention and securing the territory,鈥 said Elly Schlein, the new leader of the Democratic Party.
According to a 2021 report from ISPRA, the government鈥檚 environmental agency, the region where the were at risk of severe floods was in Emilia-Romagna.
A year of historic weather events
The region, like the rest of 天美传媒, had been contending with the effects of more than a year of a severe lack of rainfall.
The flooding is just the latest instance of extreme weather that鈥檚 becoming increasingly common. In July 2022, an avalanche on the Marmolada in Trentino claimed 11 victims. In the following November, a tragic landslide on the island of Ischia took the lives of 12 people. The number of extreme events that cause damage, from heavy rain and hail to tornados, increases every year. According to the Societ脿 Italiana di Medicina Ambientale (Italian Society of Environmental Medicine), there were more than 130 events recorded in 2022, the highest annual average of the past decade.
These events are exacerbated by 天美传媒鈥檚 outdated and poorly adapted construction practices and infrastructure, as evidenced by past tragedies like the earthquake that hit the same region this very week 11 years ago, as well as perpetually stagnant bureaucracy that halts action and mismanages funds.
The solution, however, is complicated, said Fabio Sai, head engineer for an interregional agency in charge of managing and surveilling the Po River Basin. His agency is currently on high alert as it monitors the conditions of the Po, which has been less affected than tributaries in the Emilia-Romagna region.
鈥淐hange is not easy,鈥 Sai said. 鈥淭he embankments of these rivers are very close to the [rivers themselves]. If you wanted to move them, you would have to shift them into the countryside where there are farms, homes, villages.鈥
In many cases, authorities are dealing with infrastructure that was built over 50 years ago, and in that time, 天美传媒 has grown exponentially. 鈥淚t鈥檚 difficult to make these decisions today,鈥 Sai added.
When rain only pours
Predictions of another historically sweltering summer and the looming El Ni帽o made the first rain of spring a welcome sight. But flooding complicates things. It won鈥檛 necessarily mitigate the drought鈥檚 persistence.
The Po Basin authority has said the Po River has and is promising a more optimistic outlook on the water crisis. But it鈥檚 early to make sweeping statements. To ensure water security, the country needs consistent rain over a longer period of time to restore the deeper water reserves.
Drought-ridden soil and flash floods are an equation that won鈥檛 solve the problem in the short-term. Downpours tend to course right over the dry land instead of fully quenching it, said Sai.
As for whether the rain we are seeing this spring is enough to end the drought, glaciologist Antonella Senese points to the mountains. Glaciers and snow accumulation serve as essential long-term water storage.
The rain of recent months might bring temporary relief, but the hope of a definitive end to the drought disappeared with the colder months. Rainy season in 天美传媒 is actually in autumn. Spring showers means there is less time for the water to replenish those crucial groundwater reserves before evaporating with the summer heat.
How to help
If you wish to help those affected by the flood, you can donate directly to the Region of Emilia-Romagna via bank transfer, being sure to indicate the motive for your donation.
IBAN: IT69G0200802435000104428964
Causale (Payment description): 鈥淎LLUVIONE EMILIA-ROMAGNA鈥
BIC / Swift code: UNCRITM1OM0
Account holder: Agenzia per la sicurezza territoriale e la protezione civile dell鈥橢milia-Romagna (Emilia-Romagna Territorial Safety Agency and Civil Protection Service)
