Italy Faces Worst Flood in 100 Years... 23 Levees Breach

Average 200-500mm Rain Bomb Over Two Days
Half of Annual Rainfall Falls in Just a Day and a Half

In the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, more than six months' worth of rain fell in just a day and a half, causing over 20 levees to collapse, resulting in 13 deaths and tens of thousands of displaced people. Forty-one cities and towns were instantly submerged.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

According to foreign media including the BBC on the 18th (local time), all rivers along the 115 km stretch between Bologna in Emilia-Romagna and the northeastern coast overflowed, and around 280 landslides occurred.

This area, which had suffered from severe drought until last month, experienced a "water bomb" of 200 to 500 mm of rain over two days from the 16th to 17th. This amount corresponds to half of the region's annual average rainfall (1000 mm).

Due to the heavy rain, levees along 23 rivers collapsed, and 41 cities and towns were quickly flooded. Most of the victims were elderly and disabled people who could not evacuate in time.

Michel De Pascale, mayor of Ravenna, which suffered severe flood damage, said that citizens lost their homes, property, and lives, calling this flood the worst disaster in Italy in 100 years.

Nello Musumeci, Minister of Civil Protection, said that Italy is already shifting to a tropical climate, with 200 to 500 mm of rain falling within 36 hours.

He stated, "The long-dried land hardened and could not properly absorb the heavy rain."

He also mentioned that there had been no dam construction in the region for 40 years and that a new approach is needed.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

The Italian government decided to provide an additional 20 million euros (about 2.88 billion KRW) on top of the 10 million euros (about 1.44 billion KRW) it had supported two weeks ago when flood damage occurred in the region.

Pierluigi Landi, president of the meteorological expert association AMPRO, said this flood was the worst in 100 years. Antonio Navarra, a climatologist at the University of Bologna, explained that drought and floods are two sides of the same coin.

Elly Schlein, leader of Italy's opposition Democratic Party, told the BBC that this disaster is the responsibility of the political system, criticizing politicians for failing to properly respond to climate change.