Lombardy requests state of emergency following severe storms across northern Italy

Severe weather continued to disrupt northern and central Italy on Saturday, causing widespread damage, power outages, and isolated communities across several regions. In Lombardy, where rainfall reached over 250 millimetres in some areas, regional authorities requested a formal state of emergency as swelling rivers and landslides collapsed bridges, severed rail links, and forced the evacuation of roughly 400 residents, including 250 people from a campsite in Isola di Fondra. Six villages in the Bergamo area were left isolated.

Emergency crews conducted over 1,000 rescue operations nationwide. In Tuscany, approximately 23,000 lightning strikes and fallen trees left 6,000 customers without electricity. Heavy rainfall and mudslides were also reported in Trentino's Val Genova and Brescia's Val Camonica, while coastal Liguria recorded a waterspout in Rapallo. Weather warnings remained active across four regions as forecasters warned of further storm activity.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, Il Sole 24 Ore, La Repubblica