Right now, Italy is experiencing the worst flooding in the last 100 years: due to heavy rains in the province of Emilia Romagna, 21 rivers overflowed their banks in recent days, flooding entire cities in places. 13 people died, thousands lost their homes and were forced to leave their homes.
The Formula 1 Grand Prix in Emilia-Romagna, scheduled for this weekend, has been canceled and the damage caused by the natural disaster is already estimated at several billion euros. And while the Italian authorities are trying to deal with the consequences of the flood, tourists should stay away from these regions.
In addition to Italy, “apocalyptic” floods and landslides have also caused havoc in Croatia, Bosnia, and Slovenia. Climate-related natural disasters are on the rise in Southern Europe, experts warn.
In the region’s capital, Bologna, the tourist board has urged citizens to limit their travel to only the essentials. And the UK government issued a warning to travelers: “It is recommended to stay away from the banks of rivers and green areas affected by flooding. Traffic, including between Bologna and Rimini, may be difficult.” They urged people to check the situation before traveling and follow the instructions of local authorities.
The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet issued any travel warnings to Italy. But on the website of the ministry, there is a link to the Italian Civil Defense Service, where meteorological warnings are regularly published, the latest of which is dated yesterday. If you are planning a trip to the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna shortly, then you should pay special attention to the warning of the authorities.
Flights to Bologna and train cancellations in Emilia-Romagna
Flights to and from Bologna Airport continue to operate as scheduled, according to the latest flight information. Bologna Guglielmo Marconi International Airport recommends that departing passengers leave home early and use public transport such as the Marconi Express monorail (from Bologna Central Station) or bus.
Italia Rail warns that the Emilia-Romagna region is experiencing delays, restrictions, and cancellations of high-speed trains, InterCity trains, and regional trains. In a statement issued on May 17, people are advised to refrain from traveling if possible for the next few days.
Tourist sites in Bologna and Ravenna
If you are in the affected region of Italy right now, then keep in mind that some of its attractions are currently closed to the public. As of May 19, all university museums in the city remained closed, as well as pedestrian routes and bicycle paths in the vicinity of Bologna. You can track changes in the work of tourist facilities in the city HERE.
The popular tourist city of Ravenna, famous for its Byzantine-era mosaics, was also hit hard by the floods. Some 14,000 people were ordered to leave their homes on Wednesday evening over fears that new rivers could burst their banks. “Ravenna is unrecognizable after the damage done to it,” Mayor Michele de Pascale said in an interview with public radio RAI.
Have other parts of Italy been affected?
Emilia-Romagna bore the brunt of the storm, as evidenced by red warnings issued by the Italian government. But the neighboring regions of the Marche and Tuscany, which are under the amber alert level, have also been hit by heavy rains. The government has issued a yellow warning for areas such as Rome and Naples.
Flooding also occurred outside of Italy as a result of extreme weather conditions. In the Balkans, the flooded Una River flooded parts of northern Croatia and northwestern Bosnia, where authorities have declared a state of emergency. The mayor of the Bosnian city of Bosanska Krupa said hundreds of houses were flooded. “We have an apocalypse,” Amin Halitovich told the regional TV channel N1. “We can no longer count the flooded buildings. This has never happened.”