Bologna: A violent windstorm tore the roof off a swimming pool near Bologna on Tuesday as heavy storms continued to pound parts of central Italy, including the Emilia-Romagna region.
According to Ansa News Agency, the windstorm particularly affected Bologna and its province, where in Ozzano, the twister damaged the municipal swimming pool. The facility was closed off after everyone inside was evacuated, and fortunately, no injuries were reported, Ozzano Mayor Luca Lelli confirmed.
Meanwhile, the governor of the Emilia-Romagna region around Bologna, Michele de Pascale, expressed concern as the Lamone river reached a red alert level in Marradi, near Florence, raising fears of potential flooding. De Pascale stated that the regional operational centre was actively monitoring the situation.
The Lamone River reached a record 2.68 metres in Marradi near Florence but was considered to be receding in the afternoon by the Tuscan civil protection, while it was increasingly swelling in Romagna. De Pascale extended his solidarity to local administrators who are closely monitoring the situation alongside the regional centre.
Reflecting on the series of adverse weather events, de Pascale remarked, “If we ever needed an additional incentive, this constant stream of concerning events affecting the whole territory can only induce us to do better.” The region had previously experienced severe floods in September, leading to the evacuation of nearly 3,000 residents due to torrential rain. The Lamone River had also broken its banks in Bagnacavallo near Ravenna, causing widespread flooding and destruction.
Many of the areas affected by the recent bad weather in Emilia-Romagna were the same ones hit by flooding and landslides in May 2023, linked to unprecedented rainfall that resulted in 17 fatalities and caused billions of euros in damage.
