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Damage and disruption in Northern Italy due to yesterday’s violent wave of bad weather which caused flooding on Valle d’Aosta e Piedmont. And the new week is still announced under the sign of strong weather instability with several thunderstorms, showers and localized hailstorms especially in the northern regions.
There are at least two confirmed deaths and one missing in the Canton of Ticino, while three deaths have also been recorded in France, victims of a falling tree due to strong winds.
Difficult situation a Cogne what remains is isolated: the only road to reach the town, the regional 47 closed by Ozein, was heavily damaged in several places. Three hundred people were evacuated from the valley by helicopter (200 from Valnontey and 100 from Cogne). These are “residents and tourists: about a hundred from Valnontey and the same number from Cogne”, said the president of the Valle d’Aosta Region, Renzo Testolin who explained: «To restore traffic, I want to be optimistic, it will take weeks».
In Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, evacuation operations are underway for 120 people stranded in the Alpe Veglia area. In Piedmont, on the other hand, there are dozens of displaced people in the Alpine valleys of Turin. The towns of Nosca e Royal Ceresolein the upper Orco Valley (Turin). Heavy rain also in Switzerland where several people are missing in the canton of Ticino due to floods, landslides and mudslides.
Cogne hotelier: we saved 30 campers
«Last night, after the situation worsened, the Gran Paradiso campsite was evacuated. In our hotel we welcomed the displaced people, those we could, about 30 people.” This is said by Christine Cavagnet who, with her family, manages the Herbetet hotel, in Valnontey, a hamlet of Cogne among the most affected by yesterday’s flood. The hotelier was not in Cogne last night and, when the only road connecting to the town was closed due to a breakdown, around 8pm, she was unable to return. She is now about to return to town by helicopter, the only way to reach him at the moment.
