Flooding in Tuscany Claims Seven Lifes, One Person Still Missing
The central Italian region of Tuscany experienced severe flooding after torrential rain, leading to the discovery of a seventh casualty, while one person remains missing more than a day after rivers overflowed their banks, according to ANSA reports.
The body of a 69-year-old man was found in the town of Campi Bisenzio, situated approximately 15 km (9 miles) northwest of Florence.
Initially, authorities reported six fatalities in the deluge that began late on Thursday. Concerns had arisen that the River Arno might flood Florence after neighboring towns were inundated by the southern edge of Storm Ciaran. However, Florence managed to avoid major incidents when the high water point passed mid-morning on Friday.
Storm Ciaran, driven by a powerful jet stream from the Atlantic, unleashed heavy rain and strong winds, causing flooding in Northern Ireland, parts of Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France.
Approximately 300 people in Tuscany have been evacuated from their homes, with many experiencing disruptions to their water and power supplies, according to the region’s president, Eugenio Giani. The disaster resulted in an estimated 300 million euros ($322 million) in damages.
Another individual, a firefighter, remains missing in the northeastern Veneto region.
The Italian government declared a state of emergency on Friday and allocated an initial 5 million euros to assist the worst-affected areas. Weather alerts remain in place in various Italian regions, with some schools closed. Italy is considered particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and recent floods in the Emilia-Romagna region claimed at least 14 lives in May.
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