Italy is battling weather extremes on all ends. Days after facing intense heatwaves and experiencing record-high temperatures, flash floods and landslides are now battering the European nation.

Italy witnesses major drop in mercury post intense heatwaves

After the Italian government approved funding for Italy floods, a pair of bare-chested protestors smeared themselves with mud outside the senate building in Rome on Tuesday.

Climate activists smear themselves with mud in Rome

Here, we bring you the news that is trending across WION's social media platforms - Climate activists in Italy made a powerful statement by turning the water of Rome's iconic Trevi Fountain black. They did this to draw attention to the recent devastating floods in the country's Northeast region which claimed the lives of 14 individuals. As per the activists, the floods which are being described as the worst in the century but is just a warning.

Climate activists turn Rome's iconic Trevi Fountain black

Over 36,000 people have been forced from their homes as deadly floods strike Northeast Italy. Violent downpours earlier this week has resulted in deaths of at least 14 people. The streets of Emilia-Romagna region have transformed into rivers and authorities extended the red weather alert on Sunday. Leaving the G7 Summit in Japan early Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni returned home to deal with the emergency and thanked fellow G7 leaders for offering aid.

Floods in Northern Italy kill at least 14, over 36,000 residents displaced

As floods continue to batter parts of Italy, the death toll from the torrential flooding rises. Residents were forced to move out of their homes. Rohit Wellington Rajan brings you the report.

Death toll mounts in Italy's worst flooding in 100 years

At least 13&nbsp;people have died and thousands of others have been displaced after a devastating flood in Italy’s northern Emilia-Romagna region, local authorities said on Thursday (May 18). This comes after over 20 rivers have burst their banks and the amount of rain, which typically falls in six months, fell in a day and a half.&nbsp;

The death toll rose as rescue workers continued to search for anyone still trapped by floodwaters in the Italian region after downpours devastated homes and farms. The victims included two farmers in their 70s who might have been electrocuted while trying to move a fridge inside a flooded house, reported AFP, citing Italian media reports.&nbsp; 
 
The damage caused

Media reports citing officials have said that some 300 landslides have taken place and over 10,000 have been displaced. As of early Thursday, some 400 roads were also damaged or destroyed while the floods have affected 42 municipalities.

Speaking to reporters, Emilia-Romagna President Stefano Bonaccini, said, “We are facing a new earthquake,” referring to the seismic events that struck the region in 2012, destroying thousands of homes, and how since then almost everything was rebuilt. He added that we have seen that it can be done and “we will rebuild everything again, I am sure of that.”

Locals were seen waddling through dirty waters while officials have managed to partly restore electricity even as 27,000 people remain in the dark. The Coldiretti agricultural association said that more than 5,000 farms drowned including the so-called “Fruit Valley” as well as corn and grain fields.&nbsp; 
 
Evacuations and rescues

Authorities in Ravenna issued an immediate evacuation order early Thursday morning for three more villages threatened by floods.

The mayor of Ravenna, Michele De Pascale, announced on Thursday that residents of about a half dozen towns could return and warned them “to exercise the utmost caution,” adding that cracks in the river embankments still posed a risk to other areas.&nbsp;

Among those killed was a couple in Ronta di Cesena believed to have been hit by a wall of water as they went to check on their aromatic herb farm, reported AFP.&nbsp;

Furthermore, evacuations were ordered in towns to the west of Ravenna overnight while residents in Villanova were ordered to seek shelter on upper floors. The Italian coastguard also rescued two elderly people who took refuge on the roof of their flooded house in Faenza.&nbsp;

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While there was significantly less rainfall on Thursday with light rain expected Friday, authorities continue to remain on high alert. “When we have six months of rain in 36 hours, falling where there had already been record rain two weeks ago, there is no territory that can hold out,” Bonaccini had said late Wednesday.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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At least 13 people have died and thousands of others have been displaced after a devastating flood in Italy’s northern Emilia-Romagna region, local authorities said on Thursday (May 18).

At least 13 people have died and thousands of others have been displaced after a devastating flood in Italy’s northern Emilia-Romagna region, local authorities said on Thursday (May 18). This comes after over 20 rivers have burst their banks and the amount of rain, which typically falls in six months, fell in a day and a half. The death toll rose as rescue workers continued to search for anyone still trapped by floodwaters in the Italian region after downpours devastated homes and farms. The victims included two farmers in their 70s who might have been electrocuted while trying to move a fridge inside a flooded house, reported AFP, citing Italian media reports. The damage caused Media reports citing officials have said that some 300 landslides have taken place and over 10,000 have been displaced. As of early Thursday, some 400 roads were also damaged or destroyed while the floods have affected 42 municipalities. Speaking to reporters, Emilia-Romagna President Stefano Bonaccini, said, “We are facing a new earthquake,” referring to the seismic events that struck the region in 2012, destroying thousands of homes, and how since then almost everything was rebuilt. He added that we have seen that it can be done and “we will rebuild everything again, I am sure of that.” Locals were seen waddling through dirty waters while officials have managed to partly restore electricity even as 27,000 people remain in the dark. The Coldiretti agricultural association said that more than 5,000 farms drowned including the so-called “Fruit Valley” as well as corn and grain fields. Evacuations and rescues Authorities in Ravenna issued an immediate evacuation order early Thursday morning for three more villages threatened by floods. The mayor of Ravenna, Michele De Pascale, announced on Thursday that residents of about a half dozen towns could return and warned them “to exercise the utmost caution,” adding that cracks in the river embankments still posed a risk to other areas. Among those killed was a couple in Ronta di Cesena believed to have been hit by a wall of water as they went to check on their aromatic herb farm, reported AFP. Furthermore, evacuations were ordered in towns to the west of Ravenna overnight while residents in Villanova were ordered to seek shelter on upper floors. The Italian coastguard also rescued two elderly people who took refuge on the roof of their flooded house in Faenza. Watch the video here: × While there was significantly less rainfall on Thursday with light rain expected Friday, authorities continue to remain on high alert. “When we have six months of rain in 36 hours, falling where there had already been record rain two weeks ago, there is no territory that can hold out,” Bonaccini had said late Wednesday. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Italy floods: Death toll rises to at least 13, tens of thousands of people displaced

Heavy rains lashed Italy's northern Emilia Romagna region on Wednesday causing deadly floods that claimed the lives of at least 11 people, said a local official.

Eight bodies had been recovered from various locations, the vice president of Emilia-Romagna, Irene Priolo, told reporters, adding that the rains were easing but that river levels were still rising.

As a part of a huge rescue operation involving emergency service and armed forces, the bodies were recovered by divers on Wednesday.

"Overall in Forli, there were three victims, one in Cesena and one in Cesenatico,"&nbsp;which could be a German man previously reported missing, the official said.

"The city is on its knees, devastated and in pain," said Gian Luca Zattini, the mayor of Forli, a city near Bologna where three people lost their lives. "It's the end of the world."

Emilia Romagna, which is also known as one of the richest regions of Italy, was hit by deadly rains just a fortnight ago causing floods that killed at least two people.

Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci said that this time, around 50 centimetres (20 inches) of rain fell within 36 hours in Forli, Cesena and Ravenna, which is around half the normal annual rainfall. He described it as a situation "with few precedents".

"It is still a very critical situation," he said, adding that while the rain was still falling, it was expected to lighten during the day.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni&nbsp;took to Twitter and lent her support for those affected and said the government was "ready to intervene with the necessary aid".

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In collegamento con il Comitato operativo della Protezione Civile presieduto dal Ministro Musumeci e il presidente della Regione Emilia-Romagna, Stefano Bonaccini. Il Governo è pronto a fare la sua parte, con misure di urgenza, per fronteggiare l’emergenza e aiutare i cittadini… <a href="https://t.co/tlEZw9ZBEj">pic.twitter.com/tlEZw9ZBEj</a>
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) <a href="https://twitter.com/GiorgiaMeloni/status/1658777246990041094?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Una nuova ondata di forte maltempo ha colpito oggi molte zone, in particolare l'Emilia-Romagna dove il fiume Savio è esondato a Cesena e alcuni territori al nord delle Marche. Desidero esprimere la mia totale vicinanza alle popolazioni colpite. Il Governo segue con attenzione…
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) <a href="https://twitter.com/GiorgiaMeloni/status/1658555430652477443?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Floods force cancellation of Formula One Grand Prix&nbsp;</h2>

The Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, scheduled to be held at Imola this weekend was called off by the organisers on Wednesday citing that it was "not possible to safely hold the event" due to heavy flooding in the region.

Formula One released a statement saying that after the high-level discussions following the devastation caused by the floods in the region, &nbsp;"the decision has been taken not to proceed with the Grand Prix weekend at Imola".

"The decision has been taken because it is not possible to safely hold the event for our fans, the teams and our personnel and it is the right and responsible thing to do given the situation faced by the towns and cities in the region," it added.

"It would not be right to put further pressure on the local authorities and emergency services at this difficult time."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Heavy rains lashed Italy's northern Emilia Romagna region on Wednesday causing deadly floods that claimed the lives of at least 11 people, said a local official.

Heavy rains lashed Italy's northern Emilia Romagna region on Wednesday causing deadly floods that claimed the lives of at least 11 people, said a local official. Eight bodies had been recovered from various locations, the vice president of Emilia-Romagna, Irene Priolo, told reporters, adding that the rains were easing but that river levels were still rising. As a part of a huge rescue operation involving emergency service and armed forces, the bodies were recovered by divers on Wednesday. "Overall in Forli, there were three victims, one in Cesena and one in Cesenatico," which could be a German man previously reported missing, the official said. "The city is on its knees, devastated and in pain," said Gian Luca Zattini, the mayor of Forli, a city near Bologna where three people lost their lives. "It's the end of the world." Emilia Romagna, which is also known as one of the richest regions of Italy, was hit by deadly rains just a fortnight ago causing floods that killed at least two people. Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci said that this time, around 50 centimetres (20 inches) of rain fell within 36 hours in Forli, Cesena and Ravenna, which is around half the normal annual rainfall. He described it as a situation "with few precedents". "It is still a very critical situation," he said, adding that while the rain was still falling, it was expected to lighten during the day. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took to Twitter and lent her support for those affected and said the government was "ready to intervene with the necessary aid". In collegamento con il Comitato operativo della Protezione Civile presieduto dal Ministro Musumeci e il presidente della Regione Emilia-Romagna, Stefano Bonaccini. Il Governo è pronto a fare la sua parte, con misure di urgenza, per fronteggiare l’emergenza e aiutare i cittadini… pic.twitter.com/tlEZw9ZBEj — Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) May 17, 2023 × Una nuova ondata di forte maltempo ha colpito oggi molte zone, in particolare l'Emilia-Romagna dove il fiume Savio è esondato a Cesena e alcuni territori al nord delle Marche. Desidero esprimere la mia totale vicinanza alle popolazioni colpite. Il Governo segue con attenzione… — Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) May 16, 2023 × Floods force cancellation of Formula One Grand Prix The Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, scheduled to be held at Imola this weekend was called off by the organisers on Wednesday citing that it was "not possible to safely hold the event" due to heavy flooding in the region. Formula One released a statement saying that after the high-level discussions following the devastation caused by the floods in the region, "the decision has been taken not to proceed with the Grand Prix weekend at Imola". "The decision has been taken because it is not possible to safely hold the event for our fans, the teams and our personnel and it is the right and responsible thing to do given the situation faced by the towns and cities in the region," it added. "It would not be right to put further pressure on the local authorities and emergency services at this difficult time." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Italy hit by heavy rain, witnesses half of annual rainfall in 36 hours; flooding claims 11lives

At least nine people died and thousands were evacuated from their homes as torrential rain battered Italy's Northern Emilia-Romagna region. Hem Kaur Saroya brings you the report.

Season's worth of rain leads to floods across Northern Italy

In Photos | 9 dead, thousands evacuated in Italy floods, F1 race cancelled

Massive floods in France and Italy have not just killed people along with causing other destruction, but their sheer intensity has also swept out corpses from cemeteries.&nbsp;

As many as 12 people have died since the storm pounded this Friday in Italy's Liguria and Piedmont and Alpes-Maritimes region in France.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-battles-floods-paris-stares-at-covid-19-lockdown-332309">France battles floods, Paris stares at COVID-19 lockdown</a>

Over 600 rescuers and others on Tuesday were searching for about 20 people still missing, a spokesperson for the Alpes-Maritimes regional administration said.&nbsp;

There were corpses found on the Italian side, she said, reports The Associated Press.&nbsp;

However, she did not confirm where the bodies came and how many were found. It was also not told whether the bodies were amongst the ones who had died in the storm.&nbsp;

Local officials have said graveyards in the French towns of Saint-Martin-de-Vesubie and Tende were partially swept off due to the floods.&nbsp;

Tende Mayor Jean-Pierre Vassallo told Le Parisien newspaper that the village cemetery "was cut in two" and bodies came out.&nbsp;

Forensic police, security personnel, firefighters, rescue divers, among others are working to identify the corpses, a spokesperson for France's national gendarme service said.

He added that police are carrying out door-to-door checks in hamlets where roads, electricity, communication and water supplies are disrupted.&nbsp;

Massive floods in France and Italy have not just killed people along with causing other destruction, but their sheer intensity has also swept out corpses from cemeteries.

Massive floods in France and Italy have not just killed people along with causing other destruction, but their sheer intensity has also swept out corpses from cemeteries. As many as 12 people have died since the storm pounded this Friday in Italy's Liguria and Piedmont and Alpes-Maritimes region in France. Also read | France battles floods, Paris stares at COVID-19 lockdown Over 600 rescuers and others on Tuesday were searching for about 20 people still missing, a spokesperson for the Alpes-Maritimes regional administration said. There were corpses found on the Italian side, she said, reports The Associated Press. However, she did not confirm where the bodies came and how many were found. It was also not told whether the bodies were amongst the ones who had died in the storm. Local officials have said graveyards in the French towns of Saint-Martin-de-Vesubie and Tende were partially swept off due to the floods. Tende Mayor Jean-Pierre Vassallo told Le Parisien newspaper that the village cemetery "was cut in two" and bodies came out. Forensic police, security personnel, firefighters, rescue divers, among others are working to identify the corpses, a spokesperson for France's national gendarme service said. He added that police are carrying out door-to-door checks in hamlets where roads, electricity, communication and water supplies are disrupted.

Floods in Italy, France cause dead bodies unearth from cemeteries

Flooding from record rains in the mountainous region that spans France and Italy killed an Italian firefighter and left at least 25 people missing.

At least two killed and 25 missing in Italy and France floods

Freak storms and flash flooding following last week's heatwave in Italy claimed three lives this weekend, including a young woman caught up in a mini-tornado near Rome's Fiumicino airport.

The 26-year-old woman was driving home at around 2:00 am Sunday when the mini-tornado lifted her car and sent it crashing against a railing.

The highly localised winds tore up trees and scattered debris across the zone it hit.

Further north, a 45-year-old Norwegian competing in an ultramarathon in the Dolomite Mountains died after being hit by lightning as he ran at 2,000 metres (6,500 feet) altitude on Saturday afternoon.

And on Sunday, near Arezzo, south of Florence in the northern Tuscany region, a 70-year-old man died after his car got caught by flash-flooding.

The emergency services found his body in a mud-filled canal.

Coldiretti, Italy's main agricultural organisation, said hail storms over the last 24 hours had caused millions of euros worth of damage across the country.

Worst hit was the Arezzo province in Tuscany, they said.

Orchards, as well as fields of tobacco, sunflowers and corn,&nbsp; were completely destroyed, they said.

Freak storms and flash flooding following last week's heatwave in Italy claimed three lives this weekend, including a young woman caught up in a mini-tornado near Rome's Fiumicino airport.

Freak storms and flash flooding following last week's heatwave in Italy claimed three lives this weekend, including a young woman caught up in a mini-tornado near Rome's Fiumicino airport. The 26-year-old woman was driving home at around 2:00 am Sunday when the mini-tornado lifted her car and sent it crashing against a railing. The highly localised winds tore up trees and scattered debris across the zone it hit. Further north, a 45-year-old Norwegian competing in an ultramarathon in the Dolomite Mountains died after being hit by lightning as he ran at 2,000 metres (6,500 feet) altitude on Saturday afternoon. And on Sunday, near Arezzo, south of Florence in the northern Tuscany region, a 70-year-old man died after his car got caught by flash-flooding. The emergency services found his body in a mud-filled canal. Coldiretti, Italy's main agricultural organisation, said hail storms over the last 24 hours had caused millions of euros worth of damage across the country. Worst hit was the Arezzo province in Tuscany, they said. Orchards, as well as fields of tobacco, sunflowers and corn, were completely destroyed, they said.

Storms claim three lives in Italy

Floods killed 12 people on the island of Sicily, including nine members of a single family, pushing Italy's week-long storm toll beyond 30, rescuers said Sunday.

After a river burst its banks, the bodies of the family including children aged one, three and 15 were discovered in the coastal town of Casteldaccia east of the capital Palermo.

Rescue services said the house where they were spending the weekend was submerged in water and mud. The other victims' ages ranged from 32 to 65.

Three family members managed to escape, one by climbing a tree where he stayed for more than two hours, the Agi news agency reported.

"I lost everything, I have nothing left, just my daughter," one of the survivors, 35-year-old Giuseppe Giordano, told journalists.

His wife, two other children, his parents, brother, and sister, his nephew and the boy's grandmother all died, he said.

After flying over Casteldaccia on Sunday, Sicilian prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio described scenes of "total disaster".

Officials have opened an investigation to determine whether houses built near the river had complied with safety norms.

In a separate incident in Sicily, a 44-year-old man was found dead in his car near Vicari, also in the Palermo region.

He had been trying to reach a service station, where he was the manager, to help a colleague trapped there. A 20-year-old passenger in the car with him is still missing.

Rescue workers are also searching for a doctor, 40, forced by the storms to abandon his car on the road near the town of Corleone after trying to drive to work at the hospital there.

Two other people, a man and a woman, died after their rental car was swept away by a torrent in the region of Agrigente, rescuers said.

Violent winds and strong rain had killed at least 20 other people this week around Italy, especially in the north.

Two were reported killed on Friday, including a 62-year-old Germany tourist struck by lightning in Sardinia.

Six regions remain on high alert for storms.

The severe weather has caused massive damage and disruption. Trees in sprawling mountainside forests in the northeast of the country were flattened like matchsticks by violent winds.

"It's like after an earthquake," said the governor of the Veneto region, Luca Zaia. "Thousands of hectares of forest were razed to the ground, as if by a giant electric saw."

On Sunday, after flying over the area with Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, Zaia said the storms had destroyed 100,000 hectares (250,000 acres) of pine forest in all.

Salvini posted photos of the devastation in a series of tweets Sunday after also flying over the Alpine town of Belluno.

"We need 40 billion euros ($45.5 billion) to secure the national territory," he said.

He pledged to collect and spend that sum but, in a barbed aside to the European Union, said he hoped his plans would not provoke overspending complaints from Brussels.

Europe has objected to Italy's proposed budget, which it says will worsen the country's already huge deficit.

The canal city of Venice, on Italy's northeast coast, has also experienced some of its worst flooding ever, and withstood winds of up to 180 kilometres an hour (110 miles an hour).

The picturesque fishing village of Portofino near Genoa, a holiday resort on the Italian riviera, was reachable only by sea after the main road collapsed.&nbsp;

Floods in Sicily have closed many roads this week, and mayors ordered schools, public parks and underpasses shut.

On Sunday, troops were deployed to check the condition of the main roads on the Mediterranean island.&nbsp;

Italy's civil protection agency has described the weather lashing the country this week as "one of the most complex meteorological situations of the past 50 to 60 years".

Floods killed 12 people on the island of Sicily, including nine members of a single family, pushing Italy's week-long storm toll beyond 30, rescuers said Sunday.

Floods killed 12 people on the island of Sicily, including nine members of a single family, pushing Italy's week-long storm toll beyond 30, rescuers said Sunday. After a river burst its banks, the bodies of the family including children aged one, three and 15 were discovered in the coastal town of Casteldaccia east of the capital Palermo. Rescue services said the house where they were spending the weekend was submerged in water and mud. The other victims' ages ranged from 32 to 65. Three family members managed to escape, one by climbing a tree where he stayed for more than two hours, the Agi news agency reported. "I lost everything, I have nothing left, just my daughter," one of the survivors, 35-year-old Giuseppe Giordano, told journalists. His wife, two other children, his parents, brother, and sister, his nephew and the boy's grandmother all died, he said. After flying over Casteldaccia on Sunday, Sicilian prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio described scenes of "total disaster". Officials have opened an investigation to determine whether houses built near the river had complied with safety norms. In a separate incident in Sicily, a 44-year-old man was found dead in his car near Vicari, also in the Palermo region. He had been trying to reach a service station, where he was the manager, to help a colleague trapped there. A 20-year-old passenger in the car with him is still missing. Rescue workers are also searching for a doctor, 40, forced by the storms to abandon his car on the road near the town of Corleone after trying to drive to work at the hospital there. Two other people, a man and a woman, died after their rental car was swept away by a torrent in the region of Agrigente, rescuers said. Violent winds and strong rain had killed at least 20 other people this week around Italy, especially in the north. Two were reported killed on Friday, including a 62-year-old Germany tourist struck by lightning in Sardinia. Six regions remain on high alert for storms. The severe weather has caused massive damage and disruption. Trees in sprawling mountainside forests in the northeast of the country were flattened like matchsticks by violent winds. "It's like after an earthquake," said the governor of the Veneto region, Luca Zaia. "Thousands of hectares of forest were razed to the ground, as if by a giant electric saw." On Sunday, after flying over the area with Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, Zaia said the storms had destroyed 100,000 hectares (250,000 acres) of pine forest in all. Salvini posted photos of the devastation in a series of tweets Sunday after also flying over the Alpine town of Belluno. "We need 40 billion euros ($45.5 billion) to secure the national territory," he said. He pledged to collect and spend that sum but, in a barbed aside to the European Union, said he hoped his plans would not provoke overspending complaints from Brussels. Europe has objected to Italy's proposed budget, which it says will worsen the country's already huge deficit. The canal city of Venice, on Italy's northeast coast, has also experienced some of its worst flooding ever, and withstood winds of up to 180 kilometres an hour (110 miles an hour). The picturesque fishing village of Portofino near Genoa, a holiday resort on the Italian riviera, was reachable only by sea after the main road collapsed. Floods in Sicily have closed many roads this week, and mayors ordered schools, public parks and underpasses shut. On Sunday, troops were deployed to check the condition of the main roads on the Mediterranean island. Italy's civil protection agency has described the weather lashing the country this week as "one of the most complex meteorological situations of the past 50 to 60 years".

'Total disaster' as Italy storms kill at least 30

Heavy rains wreaks havoc in Italy; floods inundate 70% of Venice

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