The total number of victims for the flood in Emilia Romagna, in northern Italy, has risen to at least 14 registered deaths, while the number of the people who have been evacuated has reached 36,000. Food and water is running scarce for inhabitants and farm animals, the Italian news agency ANSA reports.
Around 16% of the region’s territory has been evacuated. Of those evacuated, 5,000 have been sheltered in centres allocated by the government, such as cinemas and museums, according to the Italian Civil Protection Agency. Meanwhile, 27,000 people have been left without electricity, according to the Italian multinational manufacturer and energy company, Enel.
Italy’s Prime minister Giorgia Meloni cut short her visit to Japan for the G7 to respond to the disaster. She visited areas of northern Italy hit by the flood on Sunday. Meloni did not to alert media to her visit to avoid hampering emergency services. She promised “immediate responses” from the government, but she excluded the use of European recovery funds given to Italy after the Covid-19 crisis.
“Your work is very admirable, you bring food and water, what you do is beautiful, I’m so sorry,” Meloni told volunteer workers in the area. “It has been a tragedy but it can be used as an opportunity to be reborn stronger. It is difficult to make estimates but many resources will have to be allocated,” the prime minister added.
The president of the region of Emilia Romagna, Stefano Bonaccini, said: “People have lost everything in their homes, their companies, we need 100% reimbursement.” He also added that the region needs the reconstruction materials necessary to rebuild around 600 roads. The damage incurred on natural habitats must also be considered, he added, as entire woods have been hit.
Clean-up operations are underway. Videos from emergency services showed the removal of mud from blocked and flooded roads.
