Recent severe weather in Italy and central France has caused widespread damage and disruption, with red and orange weather alerts in place until Tuesday. In Italy, the region of Emilia Romagna has been hit the hardest, with over 160 millimeters of rain falling in Bologna. Tragically, one person was killed after being swept away in a flood wave in Pianoro, and the army was dispatched to aid in rescue efforts. Flooding caused by heavy rain also affected Sicily, where emergency services rescued people from stranded vehicles and buildings. In Florence, Tuscany’s river Elsa burst its banks, prompting travel advisories.
In France, severe flooding in Limony, located on the banks of the Rhône River, resulted in more than 1,000 evacuations. Prime Minister Michel Barnier reported that over 2,300 rescue operations had been conducted by firefighters and other responders. The French weather agency reported record rainfall of 685.8 millimeters in 48 hours in some areas of Ardeche and Lozere.
As the rains have ceased, residents are facing the aftermath of the damage caused by the floods, including destroyed homes and power outages. The situation in both countries remains critical, prompting authorities to issue safety warnings and advice to residents. The impacts of the recent severe weather are expected to last for several days, as cleanup and recovery efforts continue.
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