Lombardy calls for a state of emergency due to bad weather

It was precisely because of the strong gusts of wind that the fire service was called out on numerous occasions to deal with fallen trees and large branches. In Viareggio (Lucca), on Via Zanardelli, a tree fell onto parked cars, but no one was injured. In Empoli (Florence), a large tree fell onto the SS 67 Tosco-Romagnola road; again, no one was injured. Traffic disruption was reported along the busy Florence–Pisa–Livorno road, on the Empoli section and between Pontedera and Ponsacco heading towards the coast, due to heavy rain and wind, as well as branches on the carriageway.

A night of bad weather led to numerous call-outs for the fire service, particularly in the Grosseto area. In Stiacciole, a tornado ripped the roof off a building. Fire crews have been at work since the early hours of the night to remove broken and unstable roof tiles and secure the roof, before fitting a temporary covering to prevent water ingress. Due to the strong winds and frequent lightning strikes, the fire service also responded to reports of fallen trees and dangerous vegetation, as well as the consequences of damage to structures and electrical installations. In other parts of the province, there were faults involving sparks and flashes of fire on electrical panels, pylons and power lines. In total, 29 firefighters were deployed with 12 vehicles for 50 call-outs, joined by the team from the Orbetello detachment with two vehicles and two tankers from Grosseto.

There have been over 200 call-outs by the fire service, which has been responding since yesterday evening in the various areas of Lombardy affected by the bad weather. Whilst thunderstorms are still ongoing, particularly over Milan, the situation in the area has generally improved compared with yesterday evening, whilst safety measures and restoration work continue in the worst-hit areas.

Fire brigade operations are continuing in Val Camonica in the areas of Sonico, Rino di Sonico, Malonno and Vione, which have been affected by landslides, debris flows and flooding. The Val Rabbia area has been particularly hard hit, where a debris flow has destroyed the bridge at Rino di Sonico and caused a build-up of large quantities of material. The Fire Service’s Special Operations Groups (GOS) remain active in the area, using earth-moving machinery to remove mud, boulders and debris and to carry out the work necessary to restore safe conditions.

In the last few hours, the bad weather has also affected the Como area, particularly Domaso, where a stream burst its banks, disrupting traffic along the SS340 Regina, and the province of Sondrio, where critical situations were reported following the overflowing of the Forni reservoir and the collapse of a footbridge.

A two-metre-high torrent of mud and debris swept down past the Bedole mountain hut in Val Genova, caused by the severe spell of bad weather that hit Trentino. The Rio Gabbiolo swelled and burst its banks. No people or vehicles were involved, partly because, in view of the weather forecast, the road had been closed to all traffic, including pedestrians. The Province’s Mountain Basins Service, the volunteer fire brigade from the Giudicarie district and staff from the Adamello Brenta Nature Park are currently working at the scene. Traffic along the road will remain prohibited until the debris clearance work has been completed, subject to how the weather situation develops. Indeed, the Trentino Civil Protection Agency issued a warning yesterday regarding the risk of thunderstorms and hydrogeological events, valid throughout the province until midnight today.

The alert level remains at its highest in Val Camonica, following the spell of bad weather which has particularly affected the municipalities of Sonico and Malonno, in the province of Brescia. The most serious situations are in the municipalities of Sonico and Malonno, in the province of Brescia, where the fire brigade has now been working round the clock. In Rino di Sonico, a second landslide has destroyed the bridge over the Val Rabbia stream, which had previously been closed to traffic as a precautionary measure. No injuries have been reported, but 81 people have been evacuated: 57 on the Rino di Sonico side and 24 on the Garda side. The Forward Command Post (PCA) has been set up at Sonico Town Hall, from where rescue operations are being coordinated. Downstream from Sonico, the River Oglio has flooded part of the village of Malonno. Special Operations Groups (GOS) from the fire service are currently working on site, using earth-moving machinery in collaboration with private contractors, in an attempt to dam and contain the river’s waters and limit further damage to the village. The situation is being constantly monitored.

Over 15 millimetres of rain fell in 5 minutes in Levanto shortly after 8 this morning, 65.6 millimetres in an hour in Montoggio at dawn, with 25,000 lightning strikes recorded since midnight, compared with over 132,500 yesterday: the main front of the storm system, bringing thunderstorms, hail, gusts of wind and lightning, is crossing Liguria from west to east, with heavy and widespread rain across the whole region and brief, intense downpours in some areas. At present, thunderstorm cells are affecting the Savona and La Spezia areas. No particular critical situations have been reported; the main rivers and streams are also below warning levels, with no significant rises in water levels.

The President of the Region, Marco Bucci, is monitoring the situation whilst in constant contact with the Councillor for Civil Protection, Giacomo Raul Giampedrone, who is at the Civil Protection Operations Centre, which remains open for the duration of the weather alert: “At the moment, the main front of the storm system is moving rapidly from west to east,” explains the Councillor, “which means we are avoiding the significant rainfall totals we recorded yesterday, particularly in the Tigullio area, where Chiavari saw over 200 millimetres in 24 hours. This area remains the one under the closest scrutiny.”

A total of 135 calls were received by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Single Emergency Number (NUE 112) between 6.00 pm yesterday and dawn today, reporting damage and problems caused by the bad weather. Most of these calls originated from Udine (50) and Pordenone (40), followed by Gorizia (32) and, the city least affected by the storm, Trieste (13). The bad weather, which had been anticipated and foreshadowed by an orange alert issued by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Civil Protection Agency, caused numerous instances of flooding – such as in the municipalities of Basiliano and Trasaghis in the province of Udine and in Ronchi dei Legionari (Gorizia) – amidst heavy thunderstorms and hailstorms – as well as fallen trees or branches. This occurred in the municipalities of San Quirino and San Giorgio della Richinvelda in the province of Pordenone. In some areas, particularly mountainous ones such as the Zoncolan, the wind blew in gusts of up to 128 kilometres per hour. It was precisely following the issuance of the regional alert that a number of local roads were closed as a precaution, which prevented more serious damage. In preparation for the expected storm, several local civil protection teams have been mobilised, totalling 65 volunteers across the region. This is in addition, of course, to the ongoing work of the fire service. The weather will be stable during the morning, but from the afternoon through to the evening, scattered thunderstorms – some of which may be severe – are forecast, which could lead to heavy localised rain and strong gusts of wind.

Six municipalities in the Bergamo area – Valleve, Carona, Foppolo, Branzi, Valbondione and Gandellino – remain cut off due to the bad weather of the past few hours. Across these six areas, 150 people have been involved in various evacuation operations carried out by the fire service, and there have been around twenty calls for assistance. The calls received by the operations centre of the Bergamo provincial command mainly concerned landslides, flooding and fallen trees; in addition to these incidents, around 200 guests at a campsite in Isola di Fondra were evacuated after it was threatened by a swollen stream and a landslide. In Valleve, meanwhile, a landslide cut off access to a house and the fire service evacuated three people, including two children, who had been trapped by the shifting ground.

State Road 62 (the Cisa) has been temporarily closed by ANAS on the Tuscan side, in both directions from km 19 to km 24.800, at Villafranca in Lunigiana (Massa Carrara) due to flooding caused by the ongoing heavy rainfall. Traffic is being diverted via alternative routes. ANAS staff are working to reopen the road as soon as possible, subject to changing weather conditions.