Florence Alert Eases as Arno River Under Control

Florence: A red weather alert issued Friday by authorities in Florence, as well as in major cities across Tuscany, after heavy rain swelled rivers and flooded streets was eased on Saturday when weather conditions improved. The Arno river, which at the Uffizi Station in Florence was at 4.05 metres on Friday night, still far from the second watch level of 5.50 metres, remained below warning levels on Saturday in Tuscany’s main city as well as in nearby Pisa.

According to Ansa News Agency, Tuscany Governor Eugenio Giani called off red alert flood warnings for Florence and Pisa as well as for the towns of Ponte a Signa, Montelupo, Empoli, Fucecchio, Pontedera and San Giovanni alla Vena. Meanwhile in the neighbouring Emilia-Romagna region, where vast areas were also on red weather alert on Friday, all rivers were below maximum alert levels, including the Lamone which late on Friday had risked overflowing its banks in Faenza.

A red warning however remained in place in areas of both regions, including in Ravenna in Emilia-Romagna where schools and public venues remained closed. In Tuscany, schools were also closed in the province of Florence, among other cities, where “the most significant problems” were reported due to the intense rain, as well as in Mugello, Empoli and Sesto Fiorentino, north of the city, the regional government said on Saturday. Landslides were also recorded in the province of Prato, Pistoia and Pisa, among others, local authorities said.