Heavy storms have swept across northern Italy, bringing floods, landslides, and severe disruptions to daily life. Authorities confirmed one tourist is missing in Piedmont, while several regions remain under high weather alerts.
In Milan, the Seveso River overflowed on Monday, forcing evacuations of schools and homes. The nearby Lambro River also rose to critical levels, leading to the deployment of mobile flood barriers. According to Italian news agency Rai, firefighters conducted more than 650 emergency operations across Lombardy, with over 200 firefighters mobilized.
Among the dramatic rescues, a mother and her 10-month-old baby were saved from the roof of their car in Monza and Brianza province after being trapped by floodwaters. In Florence, a falling pine tree crushed a van, though fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Search teams in Spigno Monferrato, Piedmont, continue looking for a German tourist who disappeared during flash flooding.
The Civil Protection Department issued orange alerts for Lombardy, Veneto, and Lazio, warning of hydrogeological risks, while yellow alerts remain active in Piedmont, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Tuscany, Umbria, Abruzzo, Molise, Campania, Sicily, and Sardinia.
Authorities urged residents to stay away from underpasses, flood-prone areas, and parks, while emergency crews work to restore safe conditions.
Meteorologists warn that unstable weather will persist in the coming days, with thunderstorms likely across central and northern regions, and temperatures forecast to drop below seasonal averages. Heavy rainfall may also spread into southern Italy over the weekend.
In Liguria, flooding in Val Bormida left several families isolated. Hospitals in Cairo Montenotte suffered water damage, forcing the transfer of dialysis patients to nearby facilities. Officials are assessing damages to homes, businesses, and infrastructure, with requests for state emergency recognition and compensation already being prepared.
The situation highlights the growing impact of extreme weather in Italy, with authorities calling for continued vigilance as storms remain a threat through the week.
