A powerful low-pressure system Oriana, also known as the Valentine's Day cyclone, has paralyzed a significant part of Italy. The most difficult situation is in Calabria, where authorities have requested the declaration of a national state of emergency. Torrential rains caused breaches in the flood defenses on the Crati River, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of residents. A critical situation also prevails on the coast near Rome, where high waves flooded low-lying residential areas.

Mass evacuations in the south

In Calabria, over 500 people had to leave their homes after the Crati River breached levees, flooding residential complexes in Cassano allo Ionio.

Crisis on the Rome coast

Powerful waves in Fiumicino and Ostia led to the evacuation of 50 families. Seawater invaded residential buildings, destroying property and infrastructure.

State of emergency in Calabria

Regional authorities of Calabria have formally applied for a national state of emergency, citing the enormous scale of destruction, including at the Sibari Archaeological Park.

The Apennine Peninsula is grappling with the destructive force of Cyclone Oriana, which brought torrential rains, gusty winds, and violent storm surges. The most dramatic reports are coming from the Calabria region. In the province of Cosenza, the Crati River breached protective levees, leading to the flooding of the Laghi di Sibari complex and numerous farms. Rescue services, using helicopters and teams of divers, evacuated over 500 people. Damage was also recorded at the Sibari Archaeological Park, where water damaged infrastructure and threatens priceless monuments. Regional authorities, struggling with the effects of the disaster, have officially asked the government in Rome to declare a state of emergency. In the Lazio region, the main impact was felt on the coast near the capital. In Fiumicino, at the mouth of the Tiber, a powerful storm surge penetrated inland, flooding houses located closest to the cliffs and waterfront. Mayor Mario Baccini ordered the forced evacuation of 50 families from Passo della Sentinella street, where the water level in buildings rose rapidly. Similar scenes unfolded in Ostia, where winds reaching speeds of 70 km/h and waves exceeding 3 meters in height turned seaside boulevards into mud streams. The tragic toll of the disaster is complemented by news of a man's death in Formello, whose house was pushed into a ravine by a landslide. The southern regions of Italy, due to their terrain and proximity to the sea, have been struggling with geological instability for decades, and their fight against floods dates back to the times of ancient Roman land reclamation. The island regions of Sardinia and Sicily are also repelling the weather's attack. The fire department intervened there over 2000 times in just three days. In Sardinia, near the town of Ittiri, divers rescued five people trapped by a swollen river. Although the cyclone's center is slowly moving south, Protezione Civile maintains a yellow meteorological alert for 11 regions of the country. Meteorologists warn that while extreme phenomena will weaken, rainfall and strong winds may accompany Italian residents until mid-week, hindering the stabilization of the flood situation. „The situation is unprecedented. We had to act immediately to save human lives from the force of the sea, which smashed through our protective barriers.” — Mario Baccini Sardinia: 1000, Sicily: 647, Calabria and Lazio: 3532000 — fire department interventions nationwideMedia emphasize the necessity of immediate state aid for regions affected by the disaster and criticize the sluggishness in modernizing levees. | The heroism of rescue services and the efficient coordination of actions between the central government and local authorities in the face of the cyclone are highlighted.

Mentioned People

  • Mario Baccini — Mayor of Fiumicino, who signed an urgent decree for the evacuation of families from flooded waterfront areas.
  • Roberto Gualtieri — Mayor of Rome, responsible for crisis management in the capital and the closure of public parks.
  • Gianpaolo Iacobini — Mayor of Cassano allo Ionio, who coordinated aid after the breach of levees on the Crati River.