Dangerous Marche Flood Overwhelms Roads, Farmlands in Italy, Residents Climb Trees, Roofs for Refuge

In the attempt to dodge the dangerous Marche flood, people clung to trees as well as sought shelter on roofs as torrential rains inundated the roads and farmlands of central Italy.

Marche Flood Death Toll

In Italy's Marche, a coastal region in the center of the country, a sudden rainstorm that dumped over a foot of rain early on Friday morning left at least 10 people dead and several others still missing.

According to Franco Scarsella, a local journalist, and accounts from the state radio, at least four people, the count includes two children, were still missing and the death toll was rising. Additionally, at least 50 patients with injuries were taken to nearby hospitals.

Intense Rainfall, Worst Flood

AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys claims that some of the mountainous areas of Marche have experienced some of the heaviest rainfall. Around 16.46 inches of rain had already fallen by early Friday in Cantiano, Italy, which is located at an elevation of 1,181 feet, according to AccuWeather data. Drastic flooding was seen along the coast as the heavy rain moved down the mountains.

Alessandro Piccini, the mayor of Cantiano, claimed that the town's historic center had been completely swept away, along with its bars, shops, pharmacies, and homes.

Ancona, the capital of the Marche region and a city on Italy's Adriatic coast, saw some of the worst floodings.

Senigallia, a town near Ancona, was also devastated by deep, rushing floodwaters. Floodwaters submerged garages, cars, and the first floor of some homes and businesses after riverbanks overflowed.

Stefano Aguzzi, the head of civil protection for the regional government of Marche, said that although they received the usual rain alert, nobody anticipated anything this severe.

About 700 emergency workers had been sent out, according to the department as well as Italy's fire and rescue organization, Vigili del Fuoco, who also confirmed that dozens of people had taken refuge on roofs and stayed close to trees to survive the dangerous floodwaters.

Extreme Weather

Social media users have posted pictures and videos of the raging floodwaters rushing through villages and towns, carrying cars and anything else in their path.

About 1,300 residents of Barbara, a town 24 miles from the capital Ancona, are without drinking water and have patchy phone service as a result of the flooding.

The nation has just experienced a summer of extremes when flooding occurs. One of the worst droughts and most severe heat waves in decades hit Italy and the rest of Europe.

A statement from Coldiretti, an association of Italian agricultural producers, claims that this summer has seen a five-fold increase in extreme weather events in Italy. 1,642 incidents of severe weather, including tornadoes, hailstorms, flash floods, and severe rainstorms, were reported by the agency.

According to climatologist Massimiliano Fazzini, who spoke to state television, the recent flooding was more than just an exceptional occurrence; it was an extreme event.

More rain is expected Friday as locals begin to put the pieces together. According to Roys, sporadic thunderstorms could cause some localized rain throughout the region on Friday night, and Saturday is expected to bring about more consistent rain. The storms and showers will start to dissipate by Saturday night, and dry conditions will prevail through Sunday, AccuWeather reports.