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.