Rivers in the central Italian region of Tuscany continue to rage after torrential rain brought devastation to the area, leaving a trail of death and destruction in its wake. In the latest development, a seventh person has been found dead, with another firefighter still missing, more than a day after the storm hit. The body of a 69-year-old man was discovered in Campi Bisenzio, a town some 9 miles northwest of Florence. This brings the total number of fatalities to seven.
The storm, driven by a powerful jet stream from the Atlantic, had been feared to have the potential to cause significant damage and flooding in the historic city of Florence itself. However, the high water point passed in mid-morning on Friday without major incident. Instead, the surrounding towns were swamped, forcing over 300 people to evacuate their homes.
The disaster has caused significant disruption to daily life in the region, with many without access to basic necessities such as water and power. According to Eugenio Giani, the region’s president, initial estimates suggest that the damage totals a staggering €300m (roughly £260m). The Italian government has declared a state of emergency and allocated an initial €5m to help those affected.
Effects of Storm CiaránIn a separate incident, a firefighter is still missing in the north-eastern Veneto region. The governor of the region stated that the missing firefighter had been deployed to deal with the flooding.
Weather alerts remain in force across several Italian regions, with some schools closed as a precautionary measure. Italy has been battered by strong winds and heavy rain over the past week, and the country is seen as particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. In May this year, floods in the region of Emilia-Romagna claimed at least 14 lives, highlighting the need for more effective measures to mitigate the impact of such disasters.