Violent rainstorms strike northern Italy, leaving 1 person missing

Severe rainstorms swept through northern Italy on Thursday, September 5, 2024, causing widespread flooding and infrastructure damage in several regions. Milan experienced some of the worst impacts, while rescue teams in Piedmont continued searching for a man swept away by floodwaters.

A series of violent rainstorms swept across northern Italy on Thursday, causing widespread flooding and severe disruption in several regions. Milan was one of the hardest-hit areas, while rescue operations continued in the Piedmont region, where a man went missing after his tractor was swept away by floodwaters.

Footage from state broadcaster RAI showed the overturned tractor partially submerged in the Orco Creek near Turin. Rescuers are still searching for the 58-year-old man who was operating the vehicle when the incident occurred.

In Piedmont, heavy rainfall caused rivers to overflow, resulting in the collapse of two bridges in the Val di Susa region. This has isolated approximately 50 people in two villages and blocked a provincial road. Local authorities are working to restore access and assist the affected communities.

The storms also hit the Lombardy and Veneto regions, causing severe flooding in Milan. The Seveso and Lambro rivers overflowed, prompting emergency responses from firefighters. In Milan, firefighters responded to numerous calls to rescue people stranded in flooded vehicles and pump water from flooded basements. Several subway services were suspended due to waterlogging, further disrupting transportation in the city.

Milan also witnessed the temporary shutdown of Radio Popolare, a radio station broadcasting since 1976. This was the first time the station went off the air after its broadcast center was inundated with floodwater.

Heavy rainfall continued into Friday, September 6, causing further damage in Milan, where part of the city’s courthouse became flooded. Efforts to contain water leaking from the courthouse roof are ongoing.

In Piedmont, the situation remains critical, with the Stura di Lanzo River exceeding danger levels in some areas. Authorities are closely monitoring the region as more rivers approach critical warning levels. The Turin valleys experienced significant rainfall, with some areas recording as much as 169 mm (6.65 inches) in just 12 hours.

The storm also affected other regions, including the Aosta Valley, where several roads leading to the town of Cogne were closed due to the floods. In Liguria, heavy rain is starting to subside, but the Civil Protection Authority has confirmed that transportation routes, including the A10 motorway and rail services, are now reopening.

Italy’s Civil Protection Agency had issued storm warnings earlier in the week for nine regions, including Piedmont, Lombardy, Marche, Umbria, and Campania, on Wednesday, September 4. Northwestern Piedmont and southern Calabria were also placed on high alert for potential flooding.

This wave of bad weather followed a storm earlier in the week, on Tuesday, September 3, which caused damage in Rome. During that storm, lightning struck the iconic Arch of Constantine, causing minor damage. Restoration work on the monument began on Wednesday.

According to the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine, Italy has seen a sharp rise in extreme weather events in recent years. Between 2022 and 2023, the country experienced a 22% increase in such incidents, with 878 extreme weather events recorded over the past three years.

The storms are expected to continue in the coming days. Authorities in central Tuscany and Emilia Romagna have issued orange alerts for hydrogeological risks, while Venice remains under a red alert for potential flooding.

References:

¹ Torrential rains in northern Italy flood Milan and leave a man missing – AP – September 5, 2024

² One person missing and bridges collapse as storms hit northern Italy- Euro News – September 5, 2024

³ Storm alert for nine regions in Italy –Xinhua – September 6, 2024

Rishav Kothari

I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.

• Rishav Kothari

  2025 Kamchatka earthquake rupture matched the 1952 great earthquake, study finds
• Rishav Kothari

  Red Flag Warning issued in parts of Alaska due to lightning threat
• Rishav Kothari

  Typhoon Mekkhala forecast to strengthen east of northern Luzon as monsoon hazards increase
• Rishav Kothari

  Severe storms and flash flooding forecast across the Plains, Midwest, and eastern U.S. through June 23