The key facts

  • Around 100 residents of the hamlets of Casette and Forno evacuated after a landslide blocked roads
  • Overflow of the Frigido river in Massa and the Serchio river in the province of Lucca; bridge closed at Ripafratta
  • Tuscany remained under a red weather warning until midnight on Thursday

Downpours Cause River Overflows and Evacuations in Tuscany

Heavy rains hit the Italian region of Tuscany, causing rivers and streams to burst their banks. According to the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, around 100 people were evacuated from the hamlets of Casette and Forno in the Massa area: a landslide blocked road access to these settlements, and the residents remained evacuated.

Affected Areas and Restrictions

The heaviest rainfall hit the areas of Massa, Carrara and parts of the Tyrrhenian coast. In Massa itself, the Frigido river burst its banks. In the province of Lucca, several small streams and the Serchio river overflowed; in San Giuliano Terme in the province of Pisa, houses on the Serchio floodplain remained evacuated, and the bridge in the Ripafratta area was closed. In addition, in the Caprigliola area of Massa-Carrara, after an overnight landslide, the road was temporarily closed in both directions, with traffic diverted onto a detour. The region of Tuscany remained under the red level of weather danger until midnight on Thursday.