Storm Boris unleashes severe flooding in Italy Homes evacuated in Emilia-Romagna

Storm Boris, which has already wreaked havoc across Central Europe, has now struck Italy.

The Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy is experiencing severe flooding, prompting evacuations, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Heavy rainfall began in Emilia-Romagna on the afternoon of September 18, and conditions quickly worsened. Jader Dardi, the mayor of Modigliana in the province of Forlì Cesena, reported that the region's rivers have "exploded," with the current situation surpassing the devastation from the floods of May 2023.

"The situation is rapidly deteriorating. The river level in Tebano has reached 6.19 meters," said Luca Della Godenza, mayor of Castel Bolognese. He noted that the fire brigade and local police are actively monitoring the situation and using megaphones to warn residents.

Residents in severely affected areas are being advised to evacuate and move to higher floors to avoid the floodwaters. Landslides in several cities have also blocked roads, and locals are urged to stay indoors and work from home if possible. Schools and kindergartens in Emilia-Romagna and neighboring Marche will remain closed for the next two days.

Storm Boris, which also caused widespread flooding in the Czech Republic, Romania, Poland, and Austria last week, has now raised the death toll to at least 24, with additional fatalities reported in the Czech Republic.

Scientists attribute the increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events like this to human-caused climate change. EU Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič highlighted that such floods and deadly wildfires, like those in Portugal, underscore the urgent reality of the climate crisis.

by Tamilla Hasanova