Firefighters Rescue 45 in Southern Italy as Crati River Bursts Banks
Italian firefighters have executed a series of dramatic rescues in the southern region of Calabria, pulling 45 people to safety after torrential rains triggered severe flooding across Cosenza province. The most critical operations took place in the Laghi di Sibari residential and nautical complex, where the Crati River overwhelmed flood defenses, trapping dozens in their homes.
Emergency crews evacuated 40 residents from Laghi di Sibari and the surrounding Cassano allo Ionio area after the Crati River breached its banks, sending a torrent of mud and water through the community. Firefighters utilized helicopters and amphibious vehicles to reach families isolated on upper floors and rooftops, as ground-level access was completely cut off by the rising waters. In a separate incident nearby, five additional people were rescued from vehicles stranded on submerged roadways.
Rapid Escalation and Infrastructure Failure
The scale of the disaster has drawn immediate scrutiny toward regional flood defenses. Local authorities reported that the water levels rose with “unprecedented speed,” climbing 40 centimeters in just over an hour, a surge that rendered preventative containment efforts useless. While the orange weather alert had been in place, critics and local residents have voiced strong objections regarding the maintenance of the riverbanks. The structural failure of the embankments in the Tarsia and Ferramonti sectors has reignited a long-standing debate over the management of hydrogeological risks in Calabria, with accusations that critical infrastructure upgrades have been delayed despite repeated warnings.
Region Under Siege by Severe Weather
This latest emergency is part of a broader severe weather system battering southern Italy. In the last 48 hours, parts of the region recorded over 260mm of rainfall, saturating the soil and overwhelming the Crati, Busento, and Campagnano river basins. The Laghi di Sibari area, often referred to as “Little Venice” for its canal systems, is particularly vulnerable to such surges. As rain continues to fall, the Civil Protection Department maintains a high alert, warning that further river breaches are possible if the deluge does not abate.
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