Several people have died in southern France and northern Italy after high floodwaters swamped cars. The rainstorms sweeping across southern Europe also caused a bridge to collapse near the coastal city of Savona, Italy.
Image: AFP/P. Guyot
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Torrential rains struck northern Italy and southern France over the weekend, killing at least five people and bringing a new wave of flooding to Venice. The bodies of two more people, believed to be tourists, were recovered late Sunday and early Monday near the Greek port of Antirio, and another two women died when the storm reached the east of the country later on Monday, according to state ERT television.
A 30-meter (100-foot) section of highway caved in near a viaduct close to the flooded Italian coastal city of Savona, leaving cars stranded on the precipice of the remaining stretch of road. Emergency services and sniffer dogs were deployed to find potential victims but, as yet, none had been found.
On Monday, some roads were still closed on the French Riviera and rivers were still rising in Italy after a week of flooding.
A section of highway caved in near the flooded Italian coastal city of SavonaImage: AFP/Handout Vigili del Fuoco
In the northern Italian region of Piedmont on Sunday, a 52-year-old woman, who had been missing since her vehicle was swept away by a river, was found dead. Italian media stated that two other people in the car had managed to escape in time.
Evacuations in Italy, 2 dead in France
In Alessandria, located between Turin and Milan, 200 citizens were evacuated.
Around 500 citizens were also evacuated in the Aosta Valley, where roads were closed because of a fear of potential avalanches.
Waves crashed against the barrier and onto the street in Villefranche-Sur-Mer, FranceImage: Reuters/BRICE RODIERE
In France, two people were killed and one was missing after floodwaters swamped cars and turned roads into rivers. Thousands of households have been left without electricity. The storm also reached Greece late on Sunday, causing mudslides and flooding hundreds of homes. Dozens of people were rescued by firefighters after being trapped in cars and flooded houses.
Venice floods — in pictures
The floods of November 2019 were the worst in over 50 years in the Italian canal city of Venice. The mayor has categorically blamed climate change for the unusually high water levels.
Image: Reuters/M. Silvestri
Grand Canal bursts its banks
In a city of canals, high water levels cause chaos even far away from the lagoon. Beneath Venice's iconic Rialto Bridge, the Grand Canal burst its banks and made access difficult. The bridge is one of only four which spans Venice's largest canal, which is a transport route for many tourists and workers in the city.
Image: Reuters/M. Silvestri
Acqua Alta
Powerful rainstorms hit northern Italy on November 12. A cyclone threatened the country and an exceptionally high tide reached the city. In Venice, high water levels are normal at this time of year and are traditionally referred to as "Acqua Alta" — high water. Popular tourist destination St Mark's Square flooded and made access difficult.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/M. Bertorello
Balancing act
The last high water on this scale was in 1966, when flood levels reached 194 cm (76 inches). In November, levels in St Mark's Square reached the second-highest level ever recorded, at 187 cm. People were forced to use precarious "catwalks."
Image: Reuters/M. Silvestri
Death in Venice?
For the historic city, the flooding is an increasingly dangerous problem. The high water is an annual occurrence but rarely reaches levels this high. The mayor has appealed for government help, labeling the floods "disastrous." Fortunately, there have not yet been any major injuries or fatalities reported in connection with the flooding.
Image: picture-alliance/M. Chinellato
Don't forget your umbrella
Controversy continues in the city around underwater flood barriers which have been in development for several years. Plagued with cost overruns and corruption scandals, there are also concerns that the barriers could disturb the delicate ecosystem of the Venice lagoon. The flood barriers would aim to prevent scenes like this from happening.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/L. Bruno
Climate change to blame
Mayor Luigi Brugnaro has been unequivocal in blaming climate change for the especially high water levels. He warned that even a few more centimeters of flooding could irreparably damage historical sites in the city. But with more heavy rains forecast, there is likely to be little let-up for the canal city in the coming weeks.
