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Florence Avoids Major Flooding as Arno River Levels Recede

Heavy rains prompted evacuations, closures, and emergency measures in Tuscany, with floodgates preventing disaster in Florence and Pisa.

  • Torrential rains in Tuscany caused the Arno River to swell dangerously, with Florence receiving a month’s worth of rain in just six hours.
  • Authorities evacuated over 250 residents and closed schools, museums, and public spaces in Florence, Pisa, and surrounding areas as a precaution.
  • A critical floodgate system, activated on Friday, played a decisive role in mitigating the flood risk for Florence and Pisa, preventing the Arno from breaching its banks.
  • Emergency services, including 500 firefighters, responded to landslides, flooding, and rescues, including saving a family of four from a landslide near Badia Prataglia.
  • The region remains on alert, with officials requesting a national emergency declaration and emphasizing the growing impact of climate change on extreme weather events.
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