Search efforts continued on Friday morning for two people missing near Ravenna after Emilia-Romagna experienced a second night of severe flooding caused by torrential rain. The region remains on red alert.
The two were reported missing on Thursday, with nearly 1,500 residents evacuated. The extreme-weather red alert is expected to remain in place until at least Friday night, local authorities said.
The missing individuals were last seen in Bagnacavallo, near Ravenna, after the roof of the building where they had taken shelter collapsed. The Lamone River broke its banks, flooding the town and destroying homes. Almost the entire town was evacuated.
The provinces worst hit by the flooding were Bologna, Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna, and Rimini. Particularly affected were Modigliana, near Cesena and Forlì, which suffered landslides, along with several areas in Bologna province, including Budrio, where the Idice River overflowed, and the Zena Valley. Forlì faced further risk due to the overflowing Montone River, keeping residents on high alert, according to local authorities.
In Ravenna province, the areas of Faenza, Castel Bolognese, Cotignola, and Lugo were heavily impacted.
By late Thursday, the rain had stopped, and river levels began to drop, allowing some evacuation orders to be lifted. Railway services were restored in most areas, with only a few exceptions.
However, the red alert was extended through Friday. Schools remain closed in Ravenna and parts of Forlì and Cesena, interim Emilia-Romagna Governor Irene Priolo confirmed.
Civil Protection Chief Fabio Ciciliano warned that the “emergency is absolutely not over,” stressing that authorities were closely monitoring the evolving situation.
Meanwhile, heavy rain also struck the Marche region, particularly Ancona, where the Aspio River overflowed, and the province of Senigallia. In Tuscany, northern Mugello remained on high alert on Friday after provincial roads were closed due to landslides on Thursday.
