Torrential rainfall on March 14 caused flooding in the Tuscan towns of Sesto Fiorentino, Empoli and Pontassieve.
The Ponte a Signa bridge was closed, where the waters of the Arno River reached a height of 8.7 meters (28 ft.).
In Sesto, the Rimaggio tributary of the Arno River overflowed its banks in the city center in piazza del Mercato; significant damages was caused to between 30-40 local businesses. As the waters receded, volunteers arrived to remove mud. Flooding also occurred in and around Empoli, caused by the Arno flowing to the sea; patients in local hospitals were transferred to higher floors. In Pontassieve, the Sieve River surged into streets in neighboring townships including Pelago and Contea.
The FiPiLi highway became a lake (see photo above), as commuters were forced to abandon their cars and the road was closed.
The Mugello valley was affected as well; Marradi and Palazzuolo sul Senio are isolated and cannot be reached from the south due to landslides on mountain roads and only are accessible driving from Romagna to the north. The workers of Civil Protection Agency brought farm animals to safey during the storms and also saved the animals of a zoo in Vicchio.
