A freak maritime ‘supercell’ has sparked chaos in an Italian tourist hotspot, leaving cars destroyed by falling trees and buildings flooded.
The north-east Emilia-Romagna region has been left ravaged by a violent storm that included rain, hail and winds exceeding 100km/h. It swept through Rimini and Ravenna and left a trail of devastation in its wake.
Local media has described the wild weather as a ‘true maritime supercell’ – a storm core that self-regenerates when it brings in moisture from the warm sea – as it caused serious damage to vehicles, beach resorts, and crops throughout the area over the weekend.
Footage of the major storm that lashed Orsoleto and Torre Pedrera captured the moment palm trees battled intense winds and appeared just moments away from being struck by lightening.
Another clip taken from a door camera showed thick rain battering down in the early hours of Sunday morning, leaving the street and vehicles parked outside drenched from the torrential downpour.
According to Corriere Di Bologna, dozens of firefighters responded on Monday morning as the chaotic weather left 265 trees collapsed in Milano Marittima – with many falling on top of parked cars.
No injuries or missing persons have been reported, but the Emilia-Romagna region is preparing to declare a state of regional emergency while the damage along the coast is being assessed.
‘There was heavy damage to cars and structures, but no injuries,’ said Milano Marittima Mayor Mattia Missiroli.
Footage of the major storm that lashed Orsoleto and Torre Pedrera captured the moment palm trees battled intense winds and appeared just moments away from being struck by lightening
Another clip taken from a door camera showed thick rain battering down in the early hours of Sunday morning
Vehicles and streets were left drenched from the torrential downpour
‘Civil Protection and Fire Brigade teams, including those from the provinces of Bologna and Modena and the Marche region, are active and the operational machinery is fully deployed.
‘As has happened on previous occasions, we will return the situation to normal as quickly as possible and we are confident of restoring full traffic flow this afternoon.’
The storm began at around 1:30am Sunday with a thunderstorm that swept the entire coastline, from the Ferrara area to the Rimini area.
The provinces of Rimini, Forli-Cesena and Ravenna were the hardest hit, with the storm making its appearance at around 4:30am.
Over 70mm of rain and wind gusts of up to 120km/h battered the areas in just 30 to 60 minutes, with peaks of 60 to 70mm of rain between Rimini, Riccione, and Cattolica.
Rimini recorded up to 74mm of rain due to what the municipality dubbed the ‘true maritime supercell’. Flooding has been reported across several streets in the area and seven underpasses were also left clogged with water.
The provincial fire department operations center received 300 reports and requests for intervention regarding fallen trees and branches, and flooding.
The storms were accompanied by strong gusts that even reached 110 to 120km/h between Gatteo a Mare and Bellaria Igea Marina.
Twenty-three people were also left in need of evacuation from a train stuck on the Rimini-Ravenna line after a tree fell on the tracks near Bellaria-Igea Marina.
‘We are all working to remedy what happened and return to normality as quickly as possible, as has happened in similar situations, even in the recent past. Furthermore , it should be emphasised that the Riviera is fully operational,’ said Michele de Pascale, President of the Emilia-Romagna Region, from the Municipal Operations Center (COC) in Cervia, where he is monitoring the situation following the violent wave of bad weather.
The storm began at around 1:30am Sunday with a thunderstorm that swept the entire coastline, from the Ferrara area to the Rimini area
The storms were accompanied by strong gusts that even reached 110 to 120km/h between Gatteo a Mare and Bellaria Igea Marina
No injuries or missing persons have been reported, but the Emilia-Romagna region is preparing to declare a state of regional emergency while the damage along the coast is being assessed
According to Corriere Di Bologna, dozens of firefighters responded on Monday morning as the chaotic weather left 265 trees collapsed in Milano Marittima
The provincial fire department operations center received 300 reports and requests for intervention regarding fallen trees and branches, and flooding
‘The damage, although significant, is limited to a few very specific areas, and services have resumed,’ de Pascale emphasised Sunday afternoon, ‘with the beaches clean and ready to welcome tourists.
‘This is yet another demonstration of the organisation and efficiency of our community, which is accustomed to rolling up its sleeves and never stopping.’
The mayor of the Romagna city, Jamil Sadegholvaad, added: ‘Rain, hail, and exceptionally strong wind gusts caused extensive damage, including flooded underpasses, flooding of homes, garages, shops, businesses, and beach resorts, and damage to trees.
‘By mid-afternoon, the situation had returned to essentially normal, both on the beach and in other areas of Rimini’.
Beach resorts along the coast were also left destroyed by the violent lashing of bad weather.
‘It was a major blow, it devastated the beach: broken umbrellas, gazebos, torn awnings, it was very demanding. We have all the necessary personnel on site, we’re open today, we’re working,’ said Massimo Casanova, manager of Papeete Beach in Milano Marittima.
The Civil Protection Department has issued a yellow alert for the whole of Monday.
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