Storm Boris is wreaking havoc across northeastern and central Italy, following devastating floods in central Europe just days prior.
In Emilia Romagna, over 1,000 residents have been evacuated amid reports of significant flooding and disruption in towns within the Marche region. Authorities are currently searching for two missing individuals.
On Thursday, EU leaders announced a substantial €10 billion in funding for affected nations, following a crisis meeting with leaders from neighboring countries.
The meeting took place in the city of Wroclaw, Poland, which has also been battling high river levels for several days.
European Commission President stated: “Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures,” emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Italy is the latest nation to endure the chaotic aftermath of Storm Boris, which has previously swept through Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Austria, claiming at least 23 lives.
As a result of the storm, schools across Emilia Romagna have been forced to close, with many roads impacted by landslides and train services severely disrupted.
Officials have advised residents to avoid basements and seek refuge on the upper floors of their homes.
Ravenna’s schools, libraries, and parks have shut down, while the University of Bologna has canceled exams and classes.
The city of Faenza has been particularly hard-hit, as the levels of local rivers surged overnight, prompting residents to evacuate in small boats during the night. The rising waters have also caused sewage systems to overflow.
While authorities in Bologna reported that river levels remain manageable, weather alerts are still in effect for the region, particularly concerning potential flooding and landslides in eastern Emilia Romagna.
The coastal town of Falconara has already recorded 204mm of rain since Wednesday, far exceeding the September average. The Apennine mountains have seen over 300mm of rainfall.
Although rainfall is expected to ease through Friday, the risk of flooding continues to loom, as observed throughout other central European regions.
This resurgence of flooding in Emilia Romagna brings back memories of the devastating events from May 2023, when 13 people lost their lives due to intense rainfall leading to widespread river overflow.
That previous disaster forced tens of thousands from their homes and caused billions in damages.
While the worst impacts of Storm Boris seem to be diminishing in Italy, river levels remain a concern in Hungary. Authorities anticipate a peak in Budapest by Saturday afternoon but expect it to remain below historic highs.
These recent weather events in central Europe align with growing concerns about extreme rainfall as global temperatures rise, though it remains uncertain how much climate change has directly influenced these occurrences.
Climate experts have long warned about the increasing frequency of extreme weather patterns as a direct consequence of climate change.
