A warning has been issued for people travelling to northern Italy, after 'apocalyptic' floods and landslides have devastated the region. At least 13 people have been killed and some 10,000 have been forced to evacuate their homes.
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The Emilia-Romagna region experienced six months' rainfall in a day and a half. As a result, 23 rivers burst their banks (almost every river in the region), engulfing entire towns, and approximately 300 landslides have taken place.
Warning to citizens and travellers
The region’s tourist board, located in the capital city of Bologna, advised citizens to restrict their movements and only travel for essential purposes.
The UK government has also issued a warning, recommending people check for updates prior to travelling and to follow the instructions of local authorities.
Some tourists, such as Formula One fans, have been forced to call off plans to travel to the area. The Emilia-Romagna F1 Grand Prix scheduled for this weekend in Imola has been cancelled due to the risk of the nearby Santerno river flooding. A lot of the areas surrounding the track that are used for parking and watching the race have been submerged.
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Floods that killed several people in Italy's northern Emilia-Romagna caused billions of euros worth of damage. Torrential rains devastated the region with up to 300 landslides, 23 overflowing rivers, about 400 damaged roads and 42 flooded municipalities https://t.co/oQ1dfTaDXEpic.twitter.com/vCDtOG6jPh
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 18, 2023
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Flight and train information
As reported by Euronews, citing the latest flight information, flights to and from Bologna Airport are continuing to run as scheduled. This has been condemned by travellers, who believe they should be offered the option of a refund.
Guglielmo Marconi Bologna International Airport urges outgoing passengers to allow plenty of time to travel to the airport, and to take public transport.
Other disruptions include those to the High Speed, InterCity, and regional trains, with Italia Rail warning that all are experiencing delays, route restrictions, and cancellations in the Emilia-Romagna region. A statement on 17 May recommends people don't travel over the next few days if possible.
Several tourist sites in Bologna and Ravenna are also closed.
Sources used:
Euronews: 'Italy travel warning: Everything you need to know as ‘apocalyptic’ floods hit Emilia-Romagna'
BBC: 'Italy floods leave 13 dead and force 13,000 from their homes'
Reuters: 'Devastating Italian floods kill at least 13, wreck homes and farms'
