Hiroshima [Japan], May 21: According to Reuters, torrential rains over the past several days have turned roads in the Emilia-Romagna region, northern Italy, into rivers. The disaster has killed at least 14 people, caused billions of euros in damage and severely affected the agricultural industry.
This is considered the worst flood in Italy in 100 years. Flooding has caused more than 305 landslides and damaged or disrupted more than 500 roads in the area.
About 36,000 people were forced to leave their homes, and many remained in the floodplains with power outages.
Mayor Matteo Lepore of Bologna, the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, said on May 20 that it would take "months, and in some places years" to repair roads and infrastructure.
According to the Italian agricultural association Coldiretti, more than 5,000 farms in the area, along with corn and grain fields, have been flooded.
The Italian government has promised an additional 20 million euros ($22 million) in emergency aid. Two weeks earlier, the Italian government had allocated 10 million euros to deal with flooding that left at least two people dead. Luxury sports car manufacturer Ferrari, based in Emilia-Romagna, also announced a donation of 1 million euros.
Meteorologists say months of drought have dried up the land, reducing its ability to absorb water. Therefore, heavy rain easily leads to flooding .
The situation prompted Italian Prime Minister GiorgiaMeloni on May 20 to say she would leave the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan a day earlier than scheduled to lead the flood response .
"Honestly, I couldn't be far from Italy in such a complicated time," Meloni told reporters, thanking the 5,000 people - from lifeguards to volunteers - who had been mobilized. working to help those affected by floods .
Ms. Meloni also thanked G7 leaders for their aid offers.
Prime Minister Meloni is scheduled to visit some of the hardest hit areas on May 21. On May 23, the Italian government will hold a cabinet meeting to decide on measures to help people cope with the emergency.
Source: ThanhNien Newspaper