Roughly 1000 residents from the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna were evacuated after torrential rains caused severe flooding overnight, local media reported on Thursday.
The regional provinces of Ravenna, Bologna and Faenza saw rivers flood as local mayors advised residents to evacuate their homes or stay on the upper floors of their houses.
At least 800 people in the Ravenna area and nearly 200 in Bologna province evacuated to shelters, schools and sports centers.
“The night was dramatic. We waited for the river flood to cross the city,” Faenza Mayor Massimo Isola told state TV station Rainews. “It rose really close to the limit, but thanks to the works done over the past year, we managed to avoid an overflow in the center of the city.”
Two people were reported missing in Bagnocavallo, in Ravenna province, Italy’s vice minister for transport and infrastructure, Galeazzo Bignami, said on Thursday.
Trains and schools closed down across the Emilia-Romagna region and residents were told to avoid travel and work from home if possible.
The Faenza area had just recovered from floods that hit Emilia-Romagna in May 2023, which caused 17 deaths and billions of euros in damages.