Heavy rains and high winds in northern Italy caused Lake Como in the Lombardy region to burst its banks on Saturday, leading to widespread flooding and evacuations in the area.
The storm, which dumped more than 100 millimeters of rain in some areas, also brought strong gusts of wind that toppled trees and damaged property. Several towns around Lake Como were affected by the high waters, and officials reported two fatalities in Canzo due to a mudslide.
Rescue teams and emergency personnel worked to evacuate residents from their homes and assisted with search efforts. Firefighters used boats to reach those stranded across the region.
AItaly’s Civil Protection Department warned the situation was “critical” and urged people in areas prone to flooding, landslides, and heightened river levels to take preventive measures.
The storm is expected to gradually move east, where severe weather warnings have been issued. The risk of flooding is especially high in Central Italy due to already saturated soil.
