Storm Ciaran Brings Deadly Flooding to Italy and Albania

Storm Ciaran has caused deadly flooding in Italy and Albania, with at least seven people killed. The storm brought heavy rain and strong winds, causing rivers to overflow and roads to be flooded. Many homes and businesses have been damaged, and people have been evacuated from their homes.

Record-breaking rain produced floods in a vast swath of Italy's Tuscany region as Storm Ciaran pushed into the country overnight, trapping residents in their homes, inundating hospitals, and overturning cars. At least six people in Italy and one person in Albania were killed on Friday, bringing the storm's death toll to 14 across Europe this week.

Widespread Destruction

Throughout the day, the storm brought more death and destruction as it moved eastward across the continent. In Albania, police said a motorist died when he lost control while driving a car, which slid and hit barriers. Many roads in the country were flooded, including in the capital, Tirana. Huge waves pummeled the Adriatic shores of the Balkans, and strong winds uprooted trees and ripped off roofs. Ferries connecting Croatia's islands with the coastline were halted.

Heavy Rainfall

Italian Civil Protection authorities said that 200 millimeters nearly eight inches of rain fell in a three-hour period, from the coastal city of Livorno to the inland valley of Mugello, and caused riverbanks to overflow. Video showed at least a dozen cars getting swept away down a flooded road. Tuscany Gov. Eugenio Giani said that six people died in the storm, which dumped an amount of rainfall not recorded in the last 100 years.

Climate Change Impact

Climate scientists say human-induced climate change has led to heavier rainfall during storms like Ciaran, often resulting in more severe damage. "If the conditions are different than 20 years ago, it is obvious to everyone, Nello Musumeci, the government's minister for civil protection, told Sky TG24, noting that weather systems in Italy have become more tropical in nature.

Casualties and Missing Persons

The dead in Tuscany included an 85-year-old man found in the flooded ground floor of his home near the city of Prato, north of Florence, and an 84-woman who died while trying to remove water from her home in the same area, according to Italian news agency ANSA. The other victims were a couple who had been missing near the town of Vinci and a person in Livorno province. Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera said Friday evening that the wife of the man whose body was found earlier in the town near Prato also perished. At least two people were missing on Friday in Tuscany, along with an off-duty firefighter reported missing in the mountains of Veneto, north of Venice. Other regions were on high-alert and authorities warned that the storm was heading toward southern Italy.

Infrastructure Disruptions

At least 48,000 utility customers were without electricity, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini said. High-speed train service between Florence and Milan as well as along smaller rail lines in Tuscany were affected. Ciaran left at least seven people dead as it swept across Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany on Thursday. The storm devastated homes, caused travel mayhem, and cut power to a vast number of people.

Flooding and Evacuations

As the storm pushed through, it flooded at least four hospitals, including in Pisa and Mugello. Throughout Tuscany, train lines and highways were disrupted, and schools were closed. Hundreds of people were unable to get home, including about 150 stranded in Prato after a train line was suspended Thursday night. Around 40,000 people were without electricity on Friday. The mayor of Prato expressed shock at the force of the flood that devastated the city overnight. By early Friday, residents were working to clean up the damage.

Storm Ciaran has caused widespread destruction and loss of life across Europe, with Italy being particularly hard-hit. The storm brought heavy rain and flooding, which resulted in the deaths of at least 14 people. The storm is expected to continue moving eastward, and authorities are warning residents to stay alert and prepared for further flooding and power outages.