(Updates with government reports and details)
Rome, October 16 (EFE).- The Italian region of Liguria (northern) was hit this Wednesday by a strong flood that overflowed rivers and inundated some cities. In the next few hours in the north of the country.
The Civil Protection has warned of the arrival of a vast depression of Atlantic origin, which will gradually reach Italy, causing “particularly heavy rainfall” in some parts of the north-west, such as Liguria or Tuscany (central-north).
First, in its capital, Genoa, heavy rains overflowed the Bormita river near the French border, as well as the Letimbro and Maremola streams.
The media reports that the Bormida flood has flooded cities such as Ferania, Altare or Cairo Montenot.
Mayor Marco Beltrem tells ‘La Repubblica’ that the situation is more serious in cities like Celle Ligure where “everything is flooded”.
Similarly, this morning the railway line between Genoa and Ventimiglia was interrupted due to the risk of flooding of the Nimbaldo stream and a motorway section between the municipalities of Varese and Arenzano in the direction of Genoa was also closed.
Schools will remain closed on Thursday in many cities in the provinces of La Spezia and Genoa, as well as in the Savona area, the most affected by the heavy rains.
The storm also caused some delays at Genoa’s ‘Cristoforo Colombo’ airport and two flights had to be diverted to other cities such as Turin or Pisa (north).
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, on an official visit to Brussels for the European Council, asked the head of Civil Protection Fabio Siciliano to follow “with concern” the “serious” situation in these provinces in the north of the country. inform.
The Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi, expressed his “closeness” to Liguria and thanked the firefighters for the help given to the affected population.
In Venice (northeast) sirocco winds are expected on the Adriatic and it is estimated that storms on Friday and Saturday could raise sea levels by 130 centimeters, even if a flood protection system exists. . EFE
