Torrential rains hit northern Italy

Torrential rains in northern Italy have caused the death of nine and the evacuation of thousands on Wednesday, officials stated. However, about 37 towns were affected by floods and landslides resulting from torrential rains.

“We are facing catastrophic events that have probably not been seen before,” the president of the Emilia-Romagna region Stefano Bonaccini told reporters.  The region has previously suffered bad weather at the beginning of May, causing the death of at least two.

Torrential rain also came following months of drought, which aggravated their effect in impacted communities. “Extraordinary amounts of rain have fallen on land no longer capable of absorbing them,” Bonaccini added.