Nine people have died and thousands have been evacuated from their homes after torrential rains lashed Italy’s northern Emilia-Romagna region, triggering floods and landslides, officials said on Wednesday.

Civil Defense Minister Nello Musumeci said some areas received nearly half the average annual rainfall in 36 hours, causing rivers to spread, water to overflow cities and thousands of acres of farmland to flood.

Almost 400 roads were destroyed

It has been raining for 36 hours for six months and the ground is not absorbing anything as it comes after weeks and months of drought, said the president of the Emilia-Romagna region, Stefano Bonacchini, who added that nearly 400 roads were either destroyed or unusable, and electricity, water and telephones are out of service in many places, reports La Repubblica.

Meanwhile, a red flood warning issued by the regional agency for territorial security and civil protection has been confirmed for the Modena area – a city in the region – for Thursday, May 18, despite no further rainfall. is expected

The heavy rains of recent days have caused extensive flooding to persist in the plains, with critical consequences for the area.

“We are facing catastrophic events that have probably never happened before,” said the president of the Emilia-Romagna region, Stefano Bonacchini.

Floods in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. PHOTO: AA/ABACA / Abaca Press / Profimedia

Ravenna, famous for its Byzantine monuments, suffered a lot. A local Interior Ministry spokesman said about 14,000 people should be evacuated from the area as soon as possible.

The authorities reported that the floods affected 37 cities and communities and about 120 landslides were recorded. At least one bridge near Bologna collapsed, some roads were damaged by flooding, and many rail services were suspended.

Nine people died

Nine lifeless bodies were recovered from different areas, Bonacchini said. Irene Priolo, vice president of the region, told reporters that although the rains are not as heavy, river levels continue to rise.

At first, the authorities announced 5 dead, later the number increased to 8, and in the evening the number increased again.

Civil Protection Minister Musumechi said he would ask the cabinet to find €20 million for the affected area when it meets on May 23 to consider relief measures.

Government officials said tax and mortgage payments would be suspended in flood-affected regions during the state of emergency.

Firefighters and military personnel help evacuate a local resident after flooding hit Emilia-Romagna. PHOTO Piero Cruciatti / AFP / Profimedia

Flooding after months of drought

It was the second time this month that Emilia-Romagna has been hit by bad weather, with at least two people killed in storms since the beginning of May.

Mass Lombard flood in Ravenna. PHOTO: Federico SCOPPA / AFP / Profimedia

The torrential rains followed months of drought that dried out the land, reduced its ability to absorb water and worsened the effects of flooding, forecasters said.

Muddy waters flowed through the historic centers of Faenza, Cesena and Forli, flooding some shops and forcing local residents to flee to the upper floors of their homes.

Formula 1 organizers have announced that the Imola Grand Prix will not take place due to heavy flooding in Italy.

“It was probably the worst night in the history of Romania,” Ravenna Mayor Michele de Pascale told RAI, saying 5,000 people had been evacuated from his city on Tuesday night.

“Ravenna is unrecognizable due to the damage she has sustained.”

Floods in the province of Ravenna. PHOTO: AA/ABACA / Abaca Press / Profimedia

Minister Musumechi said some parts of the region received between 200 and 500 mm of rain in 1-1/2 days, compared to the annual average of 1,000 mm.