Eight dead, Grand Prix cancelled after flooding devastates northern Italy
The Hindu
Many died in northern Italy as heavy rains flooded rivers and submerged entire neighbourhoods on May 17.
At least eight people died in Italy’s northern Emilia Romagna region as heavy rains flooded rivers and submerged entire neighbourhoods and farmland Wednesday, prompting the cancellation of this weekend’s Imola Grand Prix.
Downpours that pounded the region’s flatlands over two days caused nearly two dozen rivers to burst their banks, putting vast stretches of territory under water and causing thousands of residents to be evacuated.
“The city is on its knees, devastated and in pain,” said Gian Luca Zattini, the mayor of Forli, a city south of regional capital Bologna.
“It’s the end of the world.”
Regional authorities confirmed eight dead, seven of them in the area around Forli and the city of Cesena.
Some 37 municipalities experienced flooding, while many also reported landslides.
Two of the bodies in Forli were recovered by divers on Wednesday morning, as part of a huge rescue effort involving emergency services, armed forces and over 1,000 volunteers.