Floods in Italy’s northern Emilia-Romagna region killed nine people and inflicted billions of euros in damage, notably to agriculture, according to the regional governor on Thursday.
Torrential rains last week wreaked havoc on the region’s eastern side, causing up to 300 landslides, 23 overflowing rivers, 400 damaged or destroyed highways, and 42 inundated communities.
“We are facing a new earthquake,” Emilia-Romagna President Stefano Bonaccini told reporters, referring to the 2012 earthquake that destroyed hundreds of houses in the province.
Noting that since then “almost everything” had been rebuilt, Bonaccini said, “That experience showed us that it can be done, and we will rebuild everything (again); I am sure of that.”
According to the Coldiretti agricultural association, more than 5,000 farms were left under water in the region, which includes a so-called “Fruit Valley”, as well as corn and grain fields.
“We had already estimated almost 1 billion euros of damage (from those floods), so imagine how much the figure will rise” with the new disaster, Bonaccini said, adding it was too early to give precise figures.
The floods are the latest in a series of extreme weather events that have slammed Italy over the past year, as once-exceptional disasters have become a regular part of life.
The government has promised an extra 20 million euros ($22 million) in emergency aid on top of the 10 million euros allocated in response to previous floods two weeks ago, which killed at least two people.
Luxury sportscar maker Ferrari (RACE.MI), which is based in Emilia-Romagna, announced a 1-million-euro donation.
At least 10,000 people were forced to leave their homes, and many of those who remained in flooded areas were left with no electricity. One of the dead was swept away from her home and washed up on a beach some 20 kilometres away.
In the town of Cesena, rain stopped and waters largely receded, allowing locals to regain access to their mud-wrecked homes, including Maurizio Cola and Raffaella Zanni, who escaped early on Wednesday.
“We had to throw everything away; nothing was saved. Water has arrived up here. The bed expanded with the water,” Cola told reporters, while Zanni wiped away tears, mourning the loss of one of her most precious belongings: her wedding album.
“All the memories,” Cola said.
“Finished”, Zanni added.
The Formula One Grand Prix in Imola, which is close to several of the worst-affected districts, was cancelled on Sunday to reduce burden on emergency services, but a Bruce Springsteen concert in Ferrara on Thursday was scheduled to go ahead as planned.
Emilia-Romagna had been pummelling by harsh weather for the second time this month. Meteorologists said the heavy rains came after months of drought that had dried up the terrain, limiting its ability to absorb water.
