Storm Boris ravages Italy: Towns submerged, thousands flee for their lives

Storm Boris has left a trail of destruction across Italy after devastating much of central Europe. The storm has ravaged Italy’s northern regions, especially Emilia Romagna and Marche, forcing the evacuation of over 1,000 people as rivers burst their banks, swallowing towns and cities in the process. The chaos in Italy comes after the storm caused massive destruction in countries like Poland, the Czech Republic, and Austria, leaving at least 23 people dead.

The hardest-hit areas of Emilia Romagna saw residents fleeing in the middle of the night as rising floodwaters submerged homes and cars. In Faenza, residents were evacuated by boat after the river overflowed, and sewage systems collapsed. In the town of Falconara, rainfall reached an astonishing 204mm, far exceeding the average rainfall for September.

Authorities issued red alerts across the region, warning of continued flooding and landslides, with most of eastern Emilia Romagna under threat. The Apennine mountains received over 300mm of rain, creating further risks of landslides in the mountainous terrain.

Italy’s cities paralysed by Storm Boris

The damage caused by the storm has paralysed key infrastructure across the region. Schools have closed, train services are suspended, and roads have been rendered impassable by landslides. In Bologna, river levels are stabilising, but the weather alert remains in effect, with experts warning that while the rain is expected to ease soon, the flood risks could persist for days. The scene mirrors the deadly flooding that hit Emilia Romagna in May 2023 when six months of rain fell in just a day and a half, causing devastation and claiming 13 lives.

In Ravenna, local authorities have shut down all public facilities, and Bologna University cancelled exams due to the severe weather. Residents in high-risk areas are being urged to stay on higher floors and avoid going near rivers and waterlogged areas.

A storm fuelled by climate change?

As Italy reels from the destruction, climate scientists have drawn attention to the increasing frequency of such severe storms. Experts believe that while it’s too soon to directly attribute Storm Boris to climate change, the scale of the destruction fits with predictions that rising global temperatures will lead to more intense rainfall and storms across Europe. Dr. Maria Salerno, a climate scientist, highlighted that as temperatures rise, the atmosphere holds more moisture, making heavy rainstorms more frequent and intense.

She warned that without immediate action, Italy and other European countries could expect storms of this scale to become more common. “Storm Boris is a clear sign that Europe’s infrastructure and emergency responses are not prepared for the increasing ferocity of weather events driven by climate change. We need a comprehensive plan to mitigate these disasters,” Salerno added.

European leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, are set to meet to discuss emergency aid and disaster relief for the hardest-hit regions. Central Europe remains on high alert as rivers like the Danube continue to rise, especially in Hungary, where officials are bracing for peak water levels over the weekend.

Italy braces for recovery as flood risks remain

While the worst of the rainfall may have passed, Italy’s recovery from Storm Boris is only beginning. Thousands of people remain displaced, and the economic toll is expected to be significant. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for swift action to rebuild the affected regions and enhance flood defences across Italy. In the coming days, emergency services will focus on rescuing trapped residents, assessing the full extent of the damage, and preventing further disasters in areas still at risk.

The devastation in Italy has revived debates over the country’s preparedness for climate disasters, with increasing calls for stronger flood protection and climate-resilient infrastructure. As the rest of Europe also grapples with the fallout of Storm Boris, the region is bracing for a future in which such events may become the new normal.