ITALY: Regional authorities in northeast Italy have reported that 36,000 people have been evicted from their homes due to floods. As more homes were engulfed by rising waters and new landslides cut off hamlets, the number of displaced individuals increased. Early this week, violent downpours turned the streets of the Emilia Romagna region into rivers and claimed the lives of 14 people.
Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, has announced she will leave the G7 summit in Japan early to attend to the emergency caused by rain.
She told reporters, “Frankly, I cannot remain so far from Italy in such a complex moment.” She also expressed gratitude to the 5,000 people who had come together to assist those affected by the floods, including volunteers and rescue workers.
She also expressed gratitude to the other G7 leaders for their assistance offerings. On Sunday, Meloni was slated to travel to a few of the most severely affected areas. On Saturday, the Ravenna authorities ordered the immediate evacuation of other at-risk hamlets.
The Emilia-Romagna region received six months’ worth of rain in less than 36 hours, resulting in the worst floods the nation has ever experienced. Over 500 highways have been damaged or closed due to the floods, which have caused over 305 landslides. One of the four people on board was injured in a helicopter crash near Lugo.
Mauro Lodola, an electrician, experienced a challenge when surrounding canals were flooded by flooded rivers. He wanted to get everything done quickly so he could go on and pick himself up. He was standing thigh-high in the murky water around his home.
Water and salvaged furniture completely destroyed Lodola’s home. Outside, a shed with chickens had been relocated for safety. The mayor of Bologna, Matteo Lepore, stated that repairing the city’s roads and infrastructure would take “months, and in some places, maybe years”.
Also Read: Formula 1 Donates €1 Million After Cancelling Emilia-Romagna GP to Support Flood-Stricken Region