03 May 2023 | 11:54 AM UTC
Italy: Disruptions due to flooding ongoing in parts of Emilia-Romagna Region as of May 3
Disruptions due to flooding affecting parts of Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy, as of May 3. Evacuations and rescue operations ongoing.
Event
Disruptions due to flooding are ongoing across parts of the Emilia-Romagna Region as of May 3. Heavy rainfall since May 2 has led to several rivers breaking their banks and triggered flooding and landslides in several parts of the region; Bologna and Ravenna provinces are the worst affected. Authorities have reported one fatality after a person was swept away by floodwaters in Castel Bolognese in Ravenna Province. A home in Fontanelice in Bologna Province has collapsed following a landslide and response teams are concerned that there may be at least one person trapped inside the building. Around 450 people across Ravenna Province have been evacuated due to the threat of flooding. Several homes have also been evacuated in Monzuno and Castel San Pietro communes in the Metropolitan City of Bologna. In Forli-Cesena province around a dozen people have been evacuated in Dovadola and Modigliana municipalities and a landslide also damaged a gas pipeline in Predappio Alta. Emergency services have carried out hundreds of rescue operations associated with the adverse weather across the region.
Railway services have been disrupted in the affected areas, with suspensions due to flooding ongoing between Faenza and Forli (Bologna-Rimini line), Russi and Lugo (Bologna-Ravenna line), Russi and Granarolo (Faenza-Ravenna line), and Lavezzola and Mezzano ( Ferrara-Ravenna line) as of early May 3. A number of roads in Bologna, Forli-Cesena, Modena, and Ravenna provinces are also closed due to flooding and landslides. Authorities have closed schools in many of the worst-affected areas.
The threat of rain is expected to diminish over the region through May 3 and no further significant rainfall is forecast through at least May 7; however, lingering disruptions are likely in the coming hours and days as response and recovery efforts continue.
Hazardous Conditions
Sustained heavy rainfall could trigger flooding in low-lying communities near rivers, streams, and creeks. Urban flooding is also possible in developed areas with easily overwhelmed or a lack of stormwater drainage systems. Sites located downstream from large reservoirs or rivers may be subject to flash flooding after relatively short periods of intense rainfall. Landslides are possible in hilly or mountainous areas, especially where heavy rainfall has saturated the soil. Power outages could occur throughout the affected area.
Transport
Floodwaters and debris flows may render some bridges, rail networks, or roadways impassable, impacting overland travel in and around affected areas. Ponding on road surfaces could cause hazardous driving conditions on regional highways. Authorities could temporarily close some low-lying routes that become inundated by floodwaters. The disruptive weather may cause some delays and cancellations at airports in the worst-affected regions. Flooding could block regional rail lines; freight and passenger train delays and cancellations are possible in areas that see heavy rainfall and potential track blockages.
Localized business disruptions may occur in low-lying areas; some businesses might not operate at full capacity because of flood damage to facilities, possible evacuations, and some employees' inability to reach work sites.
Advice
Monitor local media for weather-related updates and advisories. Confirm all transport reservations. Stay away from elevated streams, creeks, and other watercourses that are prone to flash flooding. Do not attempt to navigate flooded roadways. Exercise caution in elevated terrain due to the threat of landslides. Charge battery-powered devices in the case of prolonged electricity outages.
