Severe Weather Strikes Italy Again: Casualties and Missing Persons Reported

Italy is facing another wave of severe weather, with devastating impacts being reported across the northern regions. Following heavy rainfall in recent days, numerous communities are left without power, as torrential floods inundate streets and homes.

In Lauriano, a small town near Turin, residents are grappling with a thick layer of mud that has blanketed the area. This situation recalls the severe flooding experienced last October, which previously struck cities like Bologna and Parma, leading to significant infrastructure damage, landslides, and power outages.

This latest round of storms has already claimed lives, with a 92-year-old carpenter found dead in his apartment in Monteu da Po, reportedly having drowned. Rescue efforts are ongoing for a father and son who went missing in Vicenza after their car was swept away by the raging Agno River. Tragically, their bodies were discovered in the river after extensive searches that included drone assistance.

The storms have also wreaked havoc in Milan, where uprooted trees fell on parked vehicles, causing damage but, fortunately, no reported injuries. Meanwhile, the Po River, Italy's largest, has reached alarming levels in Turin, prompting local authorities to monitor the situation closely.

In addition to the flooding, the northern Aosta Valley is experiencing severe issues due to fallen trees and rapid water flow, resulting in power outages across more than 35 municipalities. Transportation routes have also been suspended as safety measures.

As the severe weather continues, warnings remain in effect for the Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy regions, with predictions of further rain and thunderstorms throughout the week. The upcoming days are expected to bring unstable weather, with a brief respite in conditions anticipated only between Tuesday and Wednesday.

In the neighboring Switzerland, unusual snowfall is complicating matters, particularly in lower elevations where snow is unexpected at this time of year. While northern Italy battles floods, some Swiss locales are buried under heavy snowfall, highlighting the extreme weather conditions affecting much of Europe.