Two people are missing following severe floods in Emilia-Romagna caused by Storm Boris, Deputy Transport Minister Galeazzo Bignami announced at a press conference on Thursday.
“The pair are missing at Bagnacavallo (near Ravenna) after a roof where they had taken shelter collapsed,” he said.
Bagnacavallo Mayor Matteo Giacomoni told ANSA: “We are working to save all the people we can. It’s not a nice situation.” He explained that the river Lamone had broken its banks at Traversara, causing widespread flooding, and that residents were being rescued from rooftops.
Ravenna Provincial President Michele de Pascale confirmed that the river’s breach “has caused an extremely strong situation of danger in all the territory north of the Lamone, both at Bagnacvallo and Ravenna.”
Storm Boris wreaks havoc
The storm system, named “Boris,” has caused devastating floods in Emilia-Romagna for the second consecutive year, forcing evacuations and school closures. After wreaking havoc across central Europe, the storm brought the worst flooding the region has seen in over 20 years.
“I have to say that it rained non-stop for more than 48 hours. Boris has clearly decided to pick on our region,” said the acting president of Emilia-Romagna, Irene Priolo, speaking to RAI public radio.
Around 1,000 people were evacuated overnight, a significant decrease from the 45,000 displaced by floods last year.
On Thursday, schools were shut, and rail services were suspended across several provinces. In Lugo, near Ravenna, authorities ordered the evacuation of all ground-floor residences after the Senio river broke its banks. “We are in a full emergency … the event is very similar to what we had last May,” said Michele De Pascale, Mayor of Ravenna, though he noted the flooding this year was more geographically concentrated.
In May 2023, torrential rain and mudslides killed 17 people. It also caused damage valued at €8.5 billion in Emilia-Romagna, according to regional authorities. Priolo explained that around 250 millimetres of rain had fallen in some areas, comparable to last year’s figures. However, only three rivers had overflowed compared to 23 during the previous floods.
The national fire department reported conducting over 500 rescue operations in the region, including using helicopters. The neighbouring regions of Tuscany and Marche have also been affected by floods and mudslides.
