Brits heading off to Italy have been warned of “severe weather flooding” as red and orange weather alerts have been enforced across the country and are expected to remain in place until Tuesday, October 22.
The UK Foreign Office has urged Brits travelling to Italy to check with their tour providers before heading to the region and strongly advised them to “follow the instructions of local authorities”.
The warning comes after an influx of bad weather ravaged parts of both central France and Italy.
This extreme weather is expected to continue as it moves southwards of Italy until October 22.
So far, there has been one death after a car was swept away in a flood wave in the town of Pianora.
The worst-hit region was Emilia Romagna in northern Italy, with its capital city, Bologna, receiving roughly 160 millimetres of rain.
Liguria, in the northwest, also saw the brunt of this heavy rainfall. The region is home to the “Italian Riveria” coastline and includes the popular destination of Portofino.
As many Brits embark on holidays during October half-term, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) warned: “Severe weather and flooding is affecting many areas of Italy particularly Emilia Romagna and Liguria.”
The Italian army was dispatched to Castel Maggiore to support the Fire Department and Civil Protection in rescuing residents.
One man has sadly lost his life after his vehicle was trapped in the flood waters in Botteghino di Zocca, according to Italy’s fire and rescue service, Vigili del Fuoco.
Italy’s Minister of Interior, Matteo Piantedosi, offered his condolences to the victim’s family in a post to X on Sunday, October 20.
Piantedosi also thanked all public agencies who helped during the crisis, which have so far included around 155 rescues, and said: “My gratitude to the firefighters, the civil protection workers and the police forces, and to all those who intervened from the first hours to make the population safe,” he said.
Warnings have also been put in place for roads and rail services in the surrounding areas which may be affected.
Residents were also evacuated in the municipality of Cadelbosco di Sopra after the Crostolo torrent, a tributary of the river Po, overflowed.
According to Euronews, emergency services rescued people from roofs of buildings in Sicily, with the city of Agrigento being inundated with flood water after the Salto River breached its banks.
River Elsa also burst its banks affecting Florence, while a tributary of the river Po, Italy’s longest, overflowed and affected residents in Cadelbosco di Sopra.
The Foreign Office warned UK travellers to be on alert if visiting Italy, as severe flooding continues to plague the country with residents advised to avoid any non-essential travel.