Latest news with #UffiziGalleries
Jordan Times
15-03-2025
- Climate
- Jordan Times
Florence out of danger thanks to key floodgate
A picture shows damaged cars after a wall fell due to floods in Sesto Fiorentino near Florence Saturday (AFP photo) ROME — Florence was out of danger due to the "decisive" role of a key floodgate that prevented the Arno River from bursting its banks after heavy rains, Italian authorities said. Dozens of people were evacuated from their homes Friday after the equivalent of a month's worth of rain fell in six hours, flooding streets and swelling waterways in Tuscany, the region where Florence is located."The important flood peak of the Arno passed along the entire length without any critical issues," Tuscany's president, Eugenio Giani, wrote on social media Saturday. Giani said the region's floodgate and expansion basins were "decisive" in lowering the threat to the famous Renaissance city and surrounding areas, including Pisa. "In these difficult hours, the hydraulic safety system of the region has made the difference despite the intense and persistent rainfall," he Saturday morning, the level of the Arno was at 3.87 metres and slowly receding, said Florence mayor Sara Funaro, who added that the levels of all tributaries had fallen below warning Friday evening, the river had surpassed four metres. A red weather alert remains in effect Saturday till 1400 GMT, with parks, cemeteries, markets, museums and libraries closed. The Arno, which runs through Florence and Pisa, is prone to flooding in spring and fall. A floodgate located between Pisa and Florence, which authorities ordered opened Friday afternoon, "literally knocked down the Arno flood wave that was rising," Giani said. Construction of the floodgate began after a devastating flood in 1949. But it was not completed in time to help avert another massive flood in 1996 which killed over 100 people and destroyed or damaged countless works of art. Approximately 500 fire-fighters worked over the past 24 hours to carry out 430 interventions in the provinces of Florence, Prato, Pisa and Livorno, including rescues, due to flooding, landslides, the fire service said. Authorities were still responding to "critical issues" in certain towns outside Florence, he said. Friday's red weather alert caused Florence's world-famous Uffizi Galleries to close early, along with the Duomo cathedral.
Jordan Times
15-03-2025
- Climate
- Jordan Times
Dozens evacuated in Italy's flood-hit Tuscany
People watch the flow of the Arno River in Florence, on March 14, 2025. Heavy rain swelled rivers and flooded streets in an area near Florence with authorities issuing a red weather alert for the historic Italian city and its surroundings, urging residents to stay indoors (AFP photo) FLORENCE, Italy — Italian authorities ordered dozens of people in Tuscany to leave their homes on Friday after heavy rains swelled rivers and flooded streets near the historic cities of Florence and Pisa. Regional chief Eugenio Giani said a red weather alert demanded that people should exercise "maximum care and attention" amid "intense and persistent rain". Several dozen people were told to evacuate with the help of firefighters from low-lying villages and a floodplain near Pisa, according to the ANSA news agency. In Florence, the Uffizi Galleries -- the world-famous art museum — closed early, as did the Duomo cathedral. The fire service published images of cars partially submerged in the town of Sesto Fiorentino, north of Florence, as Giani told residents to keep clear of ground floors and basements. "My thoughts go to the populations affected by the bad weather that is hitting various areas of Italy, causing serious damage and difficulties to citizens," Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni posted on X. The government would "guarantee all necessary support", she said. More than 500 firefighters were working across Tuscany, the interior minister said, with more than 300 interventions either carried out or planned. Bernardo Gozzini from the Tuscan weather service, Consorzio Lamma, told the Corriere della Sera newspaper that 60 millimetres of rain had fallen in the area around Sesto Fiorentino between 6:00 am and noon. "In Florence, in the month of March, we usually have 70 millimetres of total precipitation," Gozzini said. "In practice, it is as if a month's worth of rain had fallen in six hours." Floodgates opened Schools, parks and cemeteries in Florence and nearby Prato were already closed after an order on Thursday. Giani said floodgates and expansion tanks had been opened to ease the pressure on the Arno, the river that runs through Florence and Pisa. In Florence, the Arno swelled to its highest level in the early evening, Giani said, without breaking its banks. It was expected to reach its peak level in Pisa overnight. Three people and their dog were hoisted to safety by helicopter in Gattaia, northeast of Florence, while in Fucecchio to the west, authorities set up beds for evacuees in a local gym. Alessio Mantellassi, mayor of Empoli, said in a live post on Facebook that the situation "is worse than in 2019", when the town flooded. "It's one of the hardest moments in recent history," he said. In Pisa, army soldiers placed sand bags behind a barrier lining a swollen river, while the city's Mayor Michele Conti said the situation was "very complex" and urged residents to stay at home. Across Tuscany's border in Emilia Romagna, where devastating floods left 17 people dead two years ago, authorities also issued a red weather warning. Some rivers in the region, which includes the historic city of Bologna, were already swollen by previous downpours. Michele de Pascale, president of Emilia Romagna, said there had been "very violent" weather on Friday morning. "We must pay great attention, it is a basin that has been hit several times in recent years by floods," he said in a statement. Scientists have repeatedly warned that man-made climate change amplifies the risk of natural disasters such as floods.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Dozens evacuated in Italy's flood-hit Tuscany
Italian authorities ordered dozens of people in Tuscany to leave their homes Friday after heavy rains swelled rivers and flooded streets near the historic cities of Florence and Pisa. Regional chief Eugenio Giani said a red weather alert demanded that people exercise "maximum care and attention" amid "intense and persistent rain". Several dozen people were told to evacuate with the help of firefighters from low-lying villages and a floodplain near Pisa, according to the ANSA news agency. Florence authorities ordered the Uffizi Galleries, the world-famous art museum, to close early, and the Duomo said it was also shutting. The fire service published images of cars partially submerged in the town of Sesto Fiorentino, north of Florence, as Giani told residents to keep clear of ground floors and basements. "My thoughts go to the populations affected by the bad weather that is hitting various areas of Italy, causing serious damage and difficulties to citizens," Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni posted on X. The government would "guarantee all necessary support", she said. More than 500 firefighters were working across Tuscany, the interior minister said, with more than 300 interventions either carried out or planned. Bernardo Gozzini from the Tuscan weather service Consorzio Lamma told the Corriere della Sera that 60 millimetres (2.4 inches) of rain had fallen in the area around Sesto Fiorentino between 6:00 am and noon. "In Florence, in the month of March, we usually have 70 millimetres of total precipitation," Gozzini said. "In practice, it is as if a month's worth of rain had fallen in six hours." - Floodgates opened - Schools, parks and cemeteries in Florence and nearby Prato were already closed after an order on Thursday. Giani said floodgates and expansion tanks had been opened to ease the pressure on the Arno, the river that runs through Florence and Pisa. In Florence, the Arno was expected to surge to its highest point in the early evening, he said. Three people and their dog were hoisted to safety by helicopter in Gattaia, northeast of Florence. Alessio Mantellassi, mayor of Empoli, a town west of Florence, said in a live post on Facebook that the situation "is worse than in 2019", when the Empoli flooded. "It's one of the hardest moments in recent history," he said. In Pisa, army soldiers placed sand bags behind a barrier lining a swollen river, while Pisa's Mayor Michele Conti said the situation was "very complex" and urged residents to stay home. Across Tuscany's border in Emilia Romagna, where devastating floods left 17 people dead two years ago, authorities also issued a red weather warning. Some rivers in the region, which includes the historic city of Bologna, were already swollen by previous downpours. Michele De Pascale, president of Emilia Romagna, said there had been "very violent" weather on Friday morning. "We must pay great attention, it is a basin that has been hit several times in recent years by floods," he said in a statement. Scientists have repeatedly warned that man-made climate change amplifies the risk of natural disasters such as floods. ar-ide/js
Al Etihad
14-03-2025
- Climate
- Al Etihad
Florence cathedral closed as Italy's Tuscany on flood alert
14 Mar 2025 20:34 ROME (AFP) Heavy rain swelled rivers and flooded streets in an area near Florence on Friday, with authorities issuing a red weather alert for the historic Italian city and its surroundings and urging residents to stay Giani, head of the central Tuscany region that includes Florence and Pisa, told citizens to exercise "maximum care and attention", warning of "intense and persistent rain" during the day. Florence authorities ordered the Uffizi Galleries, the world-famous art museum, to close early, and the Duomo said it was also shutting. Heavy rain swelled rivers and flooded streets in Florence (AFP) The fire service published images of cars partially submerged in the town of Sesto Fiorentino, north of Florence, with Giani telling residents to keep clear of ground floors and basements. More than 500 firefighters were working across Tuscany, the interior minister said, with more than 300 interventions either carried out or planned. Bernardo Gozzini from the Tuscan weather service Consorzio Lamma told the Corriere della Sera that 60 millimetres of rain had fallen in the area around Sesto Fiorentino between 6:00 am and noon."In Florence, in March, we usually have 70 millimetres of total precipitation," Gozzini said."In practice, it is as if a month's worth of rain had fallen in six hours." Floodgates Opened Schools, parks and cemeteries in Florence and nearby Prato were already closed after an order on said floodgates and expansion tanks had been opened to ease the pressure on the Arno, the river that runs through Florence and Florence, the Arno was expected to surge to its highest point in the early evening, he Mantellassi, mayor of Empoli, a town west of Florence, said in a live post on Facebook that the situation "is worse than in 2019", when Empoli flooded."It's one of the hardest moments in recent history," he Pisa, army soldiers placed sand bags behind the barrier lining a swollen river, while in Florence the Arno was lapping at the top of the river walls, in images published by Giani on Tuscany's border in Emilia Romagna, where devastating floods left 17 people dead two years ago, authorities also issued a red weather rivers in the region, which includes the historic city of Bologna, were already swollen by previous downpours. Michele De Pascale, president of Emilia Romagna, said there had been "very violent" weather on Friday morning."We must pay great attention, it is a basin that has been hit several times in recent years by floods," he said in a statement. Scientists have repeatedly warned that man-made climate change amplifies the risk of natural disasters such as floods.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Florence cathedral closed as Italy's Tuscany on flood alert
Heavy rain swelled rivers and flooded streets in an area near Florence on Friday, with authorities issuing a red weather alert for the historic Italian city and its surroundings and urging residents to stay indoors. Eugenio Giani, head of the central Tuscany region that includes Florence and Pisa, told citizens to exercise "maximum care and attention", warning of "intense and persistent rain" during the day. Florence authorities ordered the Uffizi Galleries, the world-famous art museum, to close early, and the Duomo said it was also shutting. The fire service published images of cars partially submerged in the town of Sesto Fiorentino, north of Florence, with Giani telling residents to keep clear of ground floors and basements. More than 500 firefighters were working across Tuscany, the interior minister said, with more than 300 interventions either carried out or planned. Bernardo Gozzini from the Tuscan weather service Consorzio Lamma told the Corriere della Sera that 60 millimetres (2.4 inches ) of rain had fallen in the area around Sesto Fiorentino between 6:00 am and noon. "In Florence, in the month of March, we usually have 70 millimetres of total precipitation," Gozzini said. "In practice, it is as if a month's worth of rain had fallen in six hours." - Floodgates opened - Schools, parks and cemeteries in Florence and nearby Prato were already closed after an order on Thursday. Giani said floodgates and expansion tanks had been opened to ease the pressure on the Arno, the river that runs through Florence and Pisa. In Florence, the Arno was expected to surge to its highest point in the early evening, he said. Alessio Mantellassi, mayor of Empoli, a town west of Florence, said in a live post on Facebook that the situation "is worse than in 2019", when Empoli flooded. "It's one of the hardest moments in recent history," he said. In Pisa, army soldiers placed sand bags behind the barrier lining a swollen river, while in Florence the Arno was lapping at the top of the river walls, in images published by Giani on Telegram. Across Tuscany's border in Emilia Romagna, where devastating floods left 17 people dead two years ago, authorities also issued a red weather warning. Some rivers in the region, which includes the historic city of Bologna, were already swollen by previous downpours. Michele De Pascale, president of Emilia Romagna, said there had been "very violent" weather on Friday morning. "We must pay great attention, it is a basin that has been hit several times in recent years by floods," he said in a statement. Scientists have repeatedly warned that man-made climate change amplifies the risk of natural disasters such as floods. ar-ide/js
