A violent and dangerous storm hit Tuscany, causing flooding in Cecina, across the province of Pisa (municipalities of Riparbella, Castellina Marittima, Santa Luce, Montescudaio, and Terricciola) and in downtown Livorno on the night of Friday, October 25, and Saturday, October 26.
According to scientists from Lamma (a public consortium of the Tuscan region and the Italian National Research Council focusing on meteorology), the increasingly warmth of the sea is also a contributing factor. The current temperature of the sea (20° degrees C) is unusual for this time of year. Climate change is impacting storm patterns in Europe, aggravated by rising sea levels and intense precipitation.
The storm flooded streets and basements, leading to power outages in various parts of the city. In the province of Pisa, firefighters were working to pump water out of homes, with five regular teams and three specialized flood rescue teams deployed throughout the area. “In Riparbella, 120 mm of rain fell in the last three hours, more than the average for an entire month,” said Tuscany Governor Eugenio Giani on social media. It was reported by the Tuscany Regional authorities, that it was “exceptional rainfall never recorded with such intensity in a century of measurements in the area between Cecina, Santa Luce, and Riparbella.” The town of Terricciola was also affected by the adverse weather conditions. The Cascina River overflowed at La Fraschetta, forcing the evacuation of a family with young children. Three people were evacuated in Cecina and one in Pisa. The authorities stated that another 15 people in the Pisano area were rescued from their cars and canals.
The provinces of Grosseto and Pistoia have also been declared disaster zones. Although the full extent of agricultural damage is yet to be determined, industry associations estimate that thousands of hectares of farmland have been flooded. (Paulina Juzak)
