Storm Boris, which has killed at least 24 people in Central and Eastern Europe since last week, has battered the northern Italian region of Emilia Romagna, causing severe flooding and landslides and forcing evacuations of residents.
Heavy rain hit the Emilia Romagna region late on Wednesday afternoon and conditions deteriorated rapidly overnight.
Yader Dardi, mayor of Modigliana, a town in Forlì-Cesena province that was hard hit by devastating floods in the area in May 2023, said the river had “exploded.”
“The situation is very dramatic,” he told Sky TG24. “It's worse than 2023.”
The water surged downstream, causing flooding in the village of Marzeno in Brisighella.
“A sudden and large wave is coming from Modigliana and passing through the village of Marzeno,” a message posted on the Brisighella town hall's social media page said, urging residents in the affected area to evacuate their homes. The evacuees would be accommodated in schools, the post added.
Castel Bolognese mayor Luca della Godenza said the situation was “far beyond our worst predictions.”
“The situation is worsening and is getting worsening faster,” he wrote on Facebook. “The river level is being constantly monitored and has reached 6.19 metres in Tebano. Firefighters and local police have been deployed and will be using megaphones to warn residents of the seriousness of the situation.”
He urged residents in the area to evacuate to higher floors of their homes.
Bologna city hall warned on Wednesday night that water levels in the Savena River were also rising sharply, and authorities ordered the evacuation of ground-floor and basement homes in affected areas.
Some roads have also been closed due to landslides.
Severe weather warnings have been issued for the next 24 to 36 hours in Emilia-Romagna and the neighbouring Marche region, schools will be closed on Thursday and people have been advised to avoid travelling and to work from home if possible.
Floods in Emilia Romagna in May 2023 killed 17 people and caused damage worth €8.5bn (£7.2bn).
Since last week, Storm Boris has caused widespread flooding and torrential rains in the Czech Republic, Romania, Poland and Austria. A fourth and fifth victim were reported in the Czech Republic on Wednesday, raising the death toll to at least 24.
Scientists say human-induced climate disruption is making extreme rainfall and floods more frequent and intense.
Floods in Central Europe and deadly forest fires in Portugal are common evidence of the climate crisis, European Union Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčić said on Wednesday.
“Make no mistake: this tragedy is not an anomaly. It is fast becoming the norm for our common future,” Lenarcic told MEPs. “Europe is the fastest warming continent in the world and is particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events.”
