Deadly rainstorm floods Italian island Sardinia
Nov 19, – Torrential rain had flooded large parts of the Italian island of Sardinia, leaving several people dead. Hundreds more have been forced to flee their homes. At least nine people were confirmed dead on Tuesday after a violent rainstorm and subsequent flash floods hit the island of Sardinia, news agency Ansa reported.
Television footage showed cars destroyed and bridges felled by the heavy rain and high winds of storm front Cleopatra, which hit on Monday.
The worst affected area was in and around the city of Olbia in the Mediterranean island’s northeast. Much of the city was left destroyed, city Mayor Gianni Giovanelli told Sky TG24, in what he described as an “apocalyptic” storm.
Three people from the same family died when a road bridge collapsed onto their van outside the city, while a mother and daughter were found dead in a car that was swept away by a torrent, Ansa reported.
One policeman was killed in a bridge collapse while his vehicle was escorting an ambulance. Three of his colleagues were rescued by emergency services.
Other victims included a 64-year-old woman who died in her flooded home in the village of Uras in southwestern Sardinia, and a 90-year-old woman found dead in her home near Nuoro in the mountainous central part of the island. A man was also killed in a separate bridge collapse.
Many more injured people have been taken to hospital, while hundreds have fled their homes.
Meteorologists are projecting more rainfall for Tuesday.
Press coordinator for HRO media – coordinated to this report.
Category: European Crises
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