Severe flooding and landslides have struck northern Italy, prompting red alerts in Florence, Pisa, and parts of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna. Torrential rain has caused rivers to swell, roads to close, and residents to evacuate, with authorities on high alert.Florence received nearly a month’s worth of rain in just a few hours, leading to rising water levels in the Arno River. In Pisa, flood defences were hastily erected as officials warned of increasing risk. Landslides in Bologna forced evacuations, while schools and universities shut down across Tuscany.The national fire brigade responded to emergency calls after the Rimaggio River overflowed in Florence’s northern outskirts. A family of four was rescued from a landslide in Badia Prataglia.Meteorologists warn that further heavy rain and thunderstorms could worsen conditions before relief arrives later in the weekend. The crisis highlights Italy’s growing vulnerability to extreme weather, with scientists linking worsening floods to climate change.
