Storms flood Tuscany and Liguria, rivers overflow and hamlets are cut off in Italy

Tuscany: rivers rise and hillside roads fail

Intense rain has fallen on Tuscany since the night of 11 to 12 November, causing river overflows, landslides, road closures and evacuations. The most critical situations are in the provinces of Massa-Carrara and Lucca. A red warning for hydrogeological and hydraulic risk in the Lunigiana and Reno and Serchio-Garfagnana-Lima zones stays in force until midnight on Thursday, 12 November, and those zones move to orange from midnight into Friday, 13 November. An orange alert from 17:00 on Thursday covers the Casentino, upper Valdarno, Florence area, Mugello-Val di Sieve, Romagna-Toscana and Valtiberina zones, and runs through Friday. Forecasts for Friday put average rainfall in northern areas at 40-60 millimetres, with peaks of 80-100 millimetres and locally higher totals on the hills.

Tuscany's regional president, Eugenio Giani, described the situation in a live broadcast on his social media profiles.

“At present, rains have raised river levels and caused both landslides and flooding. All of this, however, without prejudice to people's safety, which is safeguarded.”

The timeline below traces the alert changes and the Serchio flood.

Liguria: 130 firefighter interventions and rivers near guard levels

Firefighters completed 130 interventions in the last 24 hours to deal with damage from heavy rain in the provinces of La Spezia and Massa Carrara, with more than 100 units of the national fire corps engaged. Teams from Genoa and Savona reinforced the La Spezia operation. The Lavagna torrent partially overflowed in the afternoon at Calvari in the val Fontanabuona, Genoa province, spilling over its right bank at Pian Casarile. The regional environmental agency Arpal said the Magra and Entella rivers were carrying significant flows and approaching their guard thresholds. Chiavari declared a pre-alarm phase for the Rupinaro torrent after it exceeded its guard thresholds.

The La Spezia branch of the retailers' association Confcommercio described the damage to local businesses.

“Water and mud have penetrated dozens of shops, artisan workshops and warehouses, causing extensive damage to goods, furnishings, machinery and systems.”

In Arcola, the council ordered residents of Romito Magra and Ressora to move to upper floors or leave their homes as the Magra rose. Residents of via Porcareda in Ressora were told to evacuate buildings as a precaution unless they had an upper floor to shelter on. Those who ask will be moved to relatives or friends by council transport, while others will be directed to a reception point at the Due Giugno school. Firefighters also rescued 60 workers trapped overnight in flooded buildings, and schools in the province of La Spezia will close on Friday, 13 November.

Massa: earth barrier and cut-off hamlets

Massa remains in a critical state. Emergency crews built an earth barrier along the Frigido river where it crosses the city, out of fear that rising water levels from relentless rain would cause an overflow. A landslide along via Bassa Tambura and via per Casette blocked the road and left the mountain hamlets of Casette, Forno, Guadine and Resceto isolated. More than 1,500 residents of the upper localities are cut off, and about a hundred people who were outside the area could not return home. A specialist firm is working to reopen at least one passage for rescue vehicles, while the council and province assess alternative routes lower down toward Forno. An emergency post at the Palazzetto dello Sport in via delle Tortore offers overnight shelter and hot meals.

Massa: residents cut off in upper hamlets1,500

Massa: about 100 people unable to return home100

San Giuliano Terme: residents evacuated26

Massa: residents cut off in upper hamlets

1500 people

Massa: about 100 people unable to return home

100 people

San Giuliano Terme: residents evacuated

26 people

Data from the article text

Serchio: evacuations and a second flood wave

In San Giuliano Terme, in the Pisa province, 26 people living near the riverbank were evacuated, and the Ripafratta bridge was closed to vehicles and pedestrians. The local mayor, Matteo Cecchelli, described the overnight operation.

“We spent the night working to evacuate the residents of the Serchio floodplain.”

The first flood wave has passed, but a second one is expected overnight and could exceed the second guard level. The municipal civil protection operations centre remains active. In Borgo a Mozzano, in Lucca province, the Serchio overflowed shortly after midnight near the Ponte del Diavolo and spilled onto State Road 12 del Brennero. The road had been closed beforehand and people in the area were evacuated. Mayor Patrizio Andreuccetti filmed the flooding. Some parts of northwest Tuscany received in 48 hours the rain normally expected in about three months.

Outlook

Rain is forecast to continue through Friday, 13 November, and storms are expected to last until Saturday, 14 November. Schools in the La Spezia province will be closed for a second day on Friday.