Waves crash over Newhaven Lighthouse and the harbour wall in Newhaven, southern England, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. Winds up to 108 miles per hour slammed France’s Atlantic coast overnight as as Storm Ciarán lashed countries around western Europe. Kin Cheung, Associated Press
Storm Ciarán moved on from the United Kingdom and hit Italy Thursday, slamming some areas with an amount of rain that hasn’t been recorded in 100 years.
So far, the intense storm has hit England, France, Spain, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, reported The Washington Post.
The storm began making its way to Italy on Thursday, and wind speeds hit about 87 mph on Thursday night over the northwest part of the country, per CNN.
What part of Italy is flooded?
Livorno and Marina di Pisa, close to the country’s northwest coast, and towns around Florence were hit the hardest with rain, per BBC.
Heavy downpours just north of Florence in Montemurlo amounted to 7.8 inches of rainfall in less than 24 hours, per BBC. The rain made the streets look like canals, flooded homes and hospitals, and swept away cars while the nearby Bisenzio River overfilled its banks in two different places.
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“There was a wave of water bombs without precedence,” Tuscany Gov. Eugenio Giani told Italian news channel Sky TG24, per The Associated Press.
Other nearby water sources, such as Lake Como and the Arno and Seveso rivers, have already breached their banks or are threatening to do so soon due to the extensive rainfall caused by Storm Ciarán, reported CNN.
At least five people were killed during the storm in Italy, bringing the death toll of Storm Ciarán to 12 across Europe on Friday, reported The Associated Press. Many others are still considered missing as rescue workers try to clean up the storm’s wreckage and answer calls for help.
Where will Storm Ciarán hit next?
The storm is expected to hit Rome later in the day Friday, and authorities have warned residents to be alert, according to CNN.
Photo gallery of Storm Ciarán
Waves crashing in Dover, Kent, as Storm Ciaran brings high winds and heavy rain along the south coast of England, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. Winds up to 180 kilometers per hour (108 mph) slammed France’s Atlantic coast overnight as Storm Ciaran lashed countries around western Europe, uprooting trees, blowing out windows and leaving 1.2 million French households without electricity Thursday. Strong winds and rain also battered southern England and the Channel Islands, where gusts of more than 160 kph (100 mph) were reported. | Gareth Fuller, Associated Press
People walk by the sea as Storm Ciaran brings high winds and heavy rain along the south coast of England, in Brighton, England, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. | Kin Cheung, Associated Press
A couple walk their dog by washed ashore boats on the beach of Pornichet, Brittany, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. Winds up to 180 kilometers per hour (108 mph) slammed the French Atlantic coast overnight along with violent rains and huge waves, as Storm Ciaran uprooted trees, blew out windows. | Jeremias Gonzalez, Associated Press
Waves crash behind a fishing boat at Folkestone harbour, England, Thursday, Nov, 2, 2023, as Storm Ciaran brings high winds and heavy rain along the south coast of England. | Gareth Fuller, Associated Press
Firefighters rescue a resident in Campi di Bisenzio, in the central Italian Tuscany region, Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. Record-breaking rain provoked floods in a vast swath of Tuscany as storm Ciaran pushed into Italy overnight Friday, trapping people in their homes, inundating hospitals and overturning cars. At least three people were killed, and four were missing. | Gregorio Borgia, Associated Press
People make their way on a flooded street in Campi di Bisenzio, in the central Italian Tuscany region, Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. Record-breaking rain provoked floods in a vast swath of Tuscany as storm Ciaran pushed into Italy overnight Friday, trapping people in their homes, inundating hospitals and overturning cars. At least three people were killed, and four were missing. | Gregorio Borgia, Associated Press
People hold their rescued pets in Campi di Bisenzio, in the central Italian Tuscany region, Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. Record-breaking rain provoked floods in a vast swath of Tuscany as storm Ciaran pushed into Italy overnight Friday, trapping people in their homes, inundating hospitals and overturning cars. At least three people were killed, and four were missing. | Gregorio Borgia, Associated Press
People clear mud from ta street in Campi di Bisenzio, in the central Italian Tuscany region, Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. Record-breaking rain provoked floods in a vast swath of Tuscany as storm Ciaran pushed into Italy overnight Friday, trapping people in their homes, inundating hospitals and overturning cars. At least three people were killed, and four were missing. | Gregorio Borgia, Associated Press
A man makes is way on a flooded street in Campi di Bisenzio, in the central Italian Tuscany region, Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. Record-breaking rain provoked floods in a vast swath of Tuscany as storm Ciaran pushed into Italy overnight Friday, trapping people in their homes, inundating hospitals and overturning cars. At least three people were killed, and four were missing. | Gregorio Borgia, Associated Press
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