Severe weather continues to wreak havoc in Italy just days before Easter, with the north-west being hit by strong winds, heavy rain, and hail causing flooding and significant damage to infrastructure. The transport sector has been most affected, with disruptions to traffic and road closures cutting off some areas. The storm has now moved towards the north-east and central regions of the country, particularly impacting Piedmont, Lombardy, and Veneto. The Civil Protection Department has issued red alerts for Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna due to rising water levels in the River Po, with orange and yellow alerts in place in other regions.
Tragedy struck in the Vicenza area as the bodies of two men, Leone Nardon and his son Francesco, were found after their car was swallowed by a sinkhole in Valdagno. They were reported missing on Thursday evening and were believed to be on their way to assist with emergency response efforts for the flooding in the area. In Turin, a 92-year-old retired carpenter drowned after becoming trapped in his home. The damage caused by the storm in Piedmont is estimated to be in the tens of millions of euros, with landslides, flooding, evacuations, and a collapsed bridge adding to the chaos.
Over 700 firefighters are on the ground in Italy, dealing with floodwaters, fallen trees, and securing areas hit by landslides. There is maximum alert for the risk of river flooding, especially along the River Po. The river has risen significantly in the past 24 hours, with the potential to burst its banks at the Lombardy-Emilia-Romagna border. The forecast indicates a brief respite with sunshine on Friday and partly on Saturday, but more rain is expected in central and northern Italy between Easter Sunday and Monday.
Heavy snowfall also affected parts of Italy, France, and Switzerland, causing travel disruptions and power outages. Avalanche warnings reached level 5 in Chamonix, with reports of over a meter of snow falling in some areas. In Switzerland, the snow disrupted road and rail transport, leaving some areas without power. Schools were closed in Valais as a precaution, and emergency meeting points were set up in Zermatt to distribute essential supplies. This level of snowfall in central Valais in April has not been seen since 1976, adding to the challenges faced by the region.
