As of the beginning of May 2023, Romagna had seen three and a half months’ worth of rain fall. Forecasts indicated further worsening. On Tuesday 16 May, the situation worsened: the rivers were already overflowing, the land was saturated after a long drought, and many areas were flooded. Meteorologists had already expressed concern the day before, predicting continuous and heavy rains that would create critical situations.
On May 16, much of Romagna was submerged by water, causing extensive damage, deaths and injuries. Cities such as Cesena, Faenza, Forlì and others have been seriously affected, including the Rimini area. In Forlì, the head of the waterways, Fausto Pardolesi, confirmed the seriousness of the situation: the rivers had overflowed in several areas. The authorities urged the population not to move, while the mayor of Forlì, Gian Luca Zattini, launched a desperate appeal to limit travel.
During the evening, the Montone river overflowed, causing widespread flooding. The population was evacuated and the displaced were welcomed into emergency facilities. In several areas of the city there was a power outage, worsening the situation. In total, the flood caused 15 victims across Romagna. However, solidarity was not lacking: volunteers and “Mud Angels” provided fundamental help. The region will face a long recovery journey, but no one has given up the fight.
