Severe storms leave 2 dead, trigger flooding and evacuations across Italy, Slovenia and Croatia

One woman died at Latisana in Friuli Venezia Giulia after becoming trapped in her car in a flooded underpass on September 10. A Carabinieri officer entered the water and managed to remove her from the vehicle, but she died despite the rescue attempt. The officer was later taken to hospital. The regional government confirmed the death and said regional Civil Protection was supporting communities affected by the storm.

Regional meteorological data showed 24-hour rainfall totals of 203 mm (8 inches) in Lignano Sabbiadoro and 177 mm (6.97 inches) in Latisana, with 135.4 mm (5.33 inches) falling in Lignano Sabbiadoro during the first three hours, according to the Friuli Venezia Giulia regional government.

A second woman died at Sinalunga in Siena Province during severe weather on September 10. Il Fatto Quotidiano reported that Mayor Edo Zacchei confirmed the death of a woman around 80 years old after a strong wind gust shattered a window as she attempted to close it. A glass fragment struck her leg and severed the saphenous vein, causing fatal blood loss.

Flooding disrupted transport across Friuli Venezia Giulia and neighboring Veneto. ANSA reported flooded underpasses at Latisana, San Giorgio di Nogaro and Torviscosa, while rail operations were heavily disrupted between Portogruaro and Trieste because of lightning, torrential rain and infrastructure faults. Replacement buses were deployed at Trieste and Portogruaro, with delays reaching about one hour.

In Val Masino, Lombardy, 45 people were evacuated from their homes in Cataeggio after movement of the Scaiun landslide sent large quantities of debris, rock and broken trees downslope during the night of September 9–10. Schools were closed while authorities assessed the slope for further movement.

The Slovenian Environment Agency (ARSO) reported nearly 65 mm (2.6 inches) of rain between 09:00–11:00 LT along the Slovenian coast. Water flooded buildings, businesses and Tartini Square in Piran, while strong winds overturned containers at the Port of Koper and prompted a temporary restriction on truck access to the container terminal.

Around 60 firefighters with 14 vehicles were operating along the coast, according to the same report. Crews removed fallen trees in Koper and Piran and pumped water from buildings in Koper.

In Croatia, the City of Rijeka said intense short-duration rainfall on September 9 produced strong flash runoff at several locations. On Vukovarska Street, runoff entered a construction area and washed stone material onto lower sections of the road before contractor crews cleared and secured the site.

Rijeka placed municipal and emergency services on standby ahead of an Orange thunderstorm warning for September 9 and 10. DHMZ warned of locally severe thunderstorms, gale-force gusts, hail, heavy short-duration rainfall, possible flash flooding and traffic disruption.

References

¹ Maltempo: Fedriga, cordoglio per la donna deceduta a Latisana – Regione Autonoma Friuli Venezia Giulia – September 10, 2026

² Siena, tromba d’aria rompe una finestra: una scheggia di vetro ferisce a morte un’anziana – Il Fatto Quotidiano – September 10, 2026

³ Weather Alerts – Rain – Slovenia South-West – ARSO – September 10, 2026