The Emilia Romagna region in northern Italy is once again grappling with devastating floods, a year after experiencing a similar catastrophe. Storm Boris, which has been battering Europe for the past week, has brought torrential rainfall to the region, causing rivers to overflow and inundating towns and cities. The situation is particularly dire for residents of Faenza, where homes are submerged for the third time in just 16 months.
For many, the current flooding evokes a harrowing sense of déjà vu. In May 2023, the same area was hit by severe floods, resulting in 17 deaths and over €8.5 billion in damages. Residents of Borgo Durbecco, whose homes and streets were inundated with water and mud just last year, are now facing a repeat of their nightmare. The Artistation music school, a gym, and the local basketball court, which had recently undergone renovations following the previous floods, are once again submerged.
The sheer scale of the recent rainfall has overwhelmed the region’s infrastructure, leading to the Marzone and Lamone rivers bursting their banks. In some areas, as much as 300 millimeters of rain fell in just 48 hours. The situation is particularly distressing for residents, who are struggling to cope with the emotional and financial strain of repeated flooding.
“We can’t sleep anymore, the news is always getting worse. We can’t take it anymore,” one woman told Italian news site Fanpage, highlighting the growing sense of despair and anxiety among the affected population. Another resident, Fiorenzo, recounted how he was rescued from his home by the fire brigade, saying, “It’s the third time, and this wasn’t even the worst. Now we’ll seek shelter with friends and relatives for the night.”
The local authorities, facing the daunting task of managing the crisis, have been pushing for permanent flood protection measures. They argue that a concrete wall, similar to one that successfully resisted the rising water on the right bank, is urgently needed on the left bank. However, they lament that bureaucratic delays have prevented the project from being funded. “Due to bureaucratic delays nothing has been done,” Mayor Massimo Isola told newspaper La Corriere di Bologna.
Scientists are increasingly highlighting the role of climate change in exacerbating extreme weather events like the flooding in Emilia Romagna. Meteorologists have linked the recent floods to an atmospheric blockage phenomenon, where high-altitude winds slow down, creating a “traffic jam” in the atmosphere. This leads to prolonged periods of intense rainfall or extreme temperatures.
Experts believe that the warmer-than-average temperatures of the Mediterranean and Adriatic seas have further intensified the impact of this atmospheric blockage. “Vapour flows linked to a much warmer-than-average Mediterranean provide additional energy,” said meteorologist Francesco Nucera. “What was improbable becomes possible in the new climate era. This is the third flood in Emilia in a year. Climate change is making these atmospheric blockages more frequent and intense.”
The latest floods in Emilia Romagna serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for climate adaptation strategies. The region’s experience underscores the growing vulnerability to extreme weather events, highlighting the importance of investing in infrastructure improvements, disaster preparedness, and climate resilience measures.
