Eight have died in bodies of water

Italy

North African cyclone has hit Italy

Of:

Amanda Hällsten

Published: Today 09.28
 

Updated: Less than 3 hours ago

NEWS

A North African cyclone has hit Italy.

Parts of the Emilia-Romagna region are now under water.

Eight people have died and hundreds are being evacuated.

A Tunisian cyclone has moved in over Italy. During the last few days, it has rained heavily in parts of the country and the rain is expected to continue until Thursday.

The situation is most difficult in the region of Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy, which has been hit by heavy floods.

Eight people have died and at least 900 people have been evacuated so far. 50,000 people are also said to be without power.

"I am thinking of the people of Emilia-Romagna and other regions that have been hit hard by the bad weather. I am in constant contact with the defense leadership who, in cooperation with the Interior and Civil Protection, participate in the rescue and relief efforts," writes the country's Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto on Twitter.

Photo: AP

People take shelter on the roofs
 

Several people climbed onto the roofs to escape the meter-high water masses and the rescue service is now working hard to help the stranded, writes the Italian newspaper Ansa.

The village of Lutirano is currently isolated as the roads in and out of the village are blocked due to landslides. At the same time, train services between Forlì, Rimini and Ravenna have been stopped.

In Bologna and Rimini, schools have closed and large parts of the roads are flooded.

During the day, there are several weather warnings and residents in the affected areas are asked not to go out on the roads at the same time that several red weather warnings have been issued.

Photo: Michele Nucci/AP

 

Cars submerged by bodies of water in the Italian city of Faenza. Photo: Michele Nucci/AP