Over 1,000 people evacuated in Emilia Romagna floods

(ANSA) - ROME, SEP 19 - The Senio river has overflowed in Castel Bolognese near Ravenna and the water is reaching the central part of the city while across the Emilia-Romagna region over 1,000 people have been evacuated amid worsening weather conditions as incessant rain is swelling rivers, local authorities said Thursday.
    In addition to the 800 people evacuated in the area of Ravenna, 165 others were forced to leave their homes in the area of Bologna and spent the night at hosting centres made available by municipal administrations and local prefectures.
    Local authorities urged residents to remain indoors, on the top floors of buildings with water, food, medicines, essential items, cell phones and batteries.
    The worst-hit provinces were Bologna, Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna and Rimini.
    In May 2023, Emilia Romagna was hit by flooding and landslides linked to unprecedented rainfall that left 15 people dead and caused billions of euros of damage.
    On Thursday, the most critical situations concerned the rivers Lamone, Marzeno and Senio in the area of Ravenna and the Montone near Forlì.
    Overflowing rivers however have so far spared urban centres where river banks have been holding up so far, local authorities said.
    The regional government is monitoring the situation of rivers and streams swollen by unprecedented rain over the past few days with critical situations recorded in a number of areas that were already flooded in May 2023.
    Meanwhile the circulation of trains in Emilia Romagna was suspended in the night between Wednesday and Thursday, in particular between Forlì and Faenza, Ravenna and Castelbolognese, Ferrara and Faenza due to critical weather conditions and the risk of rivers in the area overflowing their banks, Italian railway company Trenitalia said Thursday.
    About seven highspeed and Intercity trains were cancelled while 11 others were subjected to route limitations, among others.
    Schools in four provinces of Emilia Romagna - Bologna, Forlì-Cesena, Rimini and Ravenna - remained closed on Thursday.
    Interim Governor Irene Priolo told people to avoid all unnecessary travel in these areas.
    And the dire weather conditions on Thursday affected other Italian regions, in particular the Marche.
    The Aspio stream overflowed in Ancona, isolating entire areas of the Marche city while the majority of streets were closed.
    The road of San Biagio and the areas of Paterno-Montesicuro were isolated due to a number of landslides, local authorities said.
    (ANSA).