Severe Weather Batters Italy: Flooding, Landslides, and Travel Disruptions Widespread
A series of intense storms has unleashed widespread disruption across Italy, from the northern regions of Lombardy and Friuli Venezia Giulia to the southern coast near Naples. Torrential rainfall, strong winds, and lightning have caused flooding, landslides, and significant travel delays, prompting emergency responses and raising concerns about ongoing risks.
Northern Italy Grapples with Intense Rainfall and Rail Disruptions
The northeastern region of Friuli Venezia Giulia bore the brunt of the severe weather on the night of July 6th and into July 7th. Lightning strikes along the Karst plateau caused significant delays on the Trieste-Venezia railway line, with delays reaching up to 90 minutes. Trenitalia reported three total cancellations and thirteen partial cancellations, activating replacement bus services to accommodate stranded passengers.
The heaviest rainfall concentrated in mountainous areas, with Cansiglio receiving 165mm of precipitation overall and Magnano on the Riviera recording 117mm. A particularly intense downpour in Arba saw 70mm of rain fall within a single hour. The Regional Operations Room of the Civil Protection FVG received reports of flooding in several municipalities, including Trieste, Spilimbergo, Duino, Tarcent, and Gorizia. Numerous reports also detailed fallen trees and branches obstructing roads in over twenty towns and cities across the region. Landslides were reported in Caneva and Zuglio, further complicating travel. In Trieste, coastal roads were intermittently closed due to the adverse conditions, and firefighters worked to secure dangerous trees.
Further north, in Lombardy, firefighters responded to over 500 incidents related to the bad weather, addressing issues ranging from fallen trees to water damage and structural concerns in the provinces of Bergamo, Brescia, Milan, and Varese.
Landslide Threatens Travelers in Val Senales
A landslide struck a road in Val Senales late on July 6th, impacting two vehicles. Fortunately, both occupants were able to safely evacuate their cars before significant damage occurred. The road remains closed as crews work to clear debris, and geologists are assessing the risk of further landslides. The area experienced 50mm of rainfall in just one hour, according to provincial meteorologist Dieter Peterlin. This incident highlights the region’s vulnerability to landslides, particularly after recent heavy rainfall; in June 2024, the road was closed twice due to falling boulders, prompting a €2 million investment in preventative containment measures.
Central and Southern Italy Face Flooding and Damage
The severe weather extended southward, impacting regions including Orvieto, Naples, and Ancona. In Orvieto, a violent thunderstorm caused damage to the city’s monumental cemetery, including the collapse of a tree and damage to burial niches, leading to a three-day closure for safety and restoration work. Flooding also impacted the basement parking of the Fiera – Foro Boario, disrupting the electrical system. Landslides were reported along roads in the surrounding areas.
Near Naples, the town of Bacoli experienced a “water bomb,” with 90mm of rain falling in under an hour – the highest rainfall recorded in the province. The mayor of Bacoli, Josi Gerardo della Ragione, announced the deactivation of restricted traffic zones to facilitate traffic flow and mobilized municipal workers to respond to emergency calls. “We are on the street with the municipal police officers and workers and technicians of the technical and maintenance office. We are responding to all the reports that come to us. We will not leave anyone alone,” he stated on Facebook.
Strong rains also caused flooding in Naples and on the island of Ischia, with reports of flooded manholes and roads. In the Marche region, firefighters responded to reports of fallen trees in Macerata, Tolentino, and Recanati, including one incident where a tree fell on a private vehicle.
The widespread nature of these storms underscores the increasing vulnerability of Italian infrastructure to extreme weather events. While the situation improved overnight in some areas, authorities remain on high alert, urging residents to exercise caution and heed weather warnings.
