The Ancona prefect's department said
Friday that nine people are confirmed to have been killed by the
violent storms and flash floods that have hit the central Marche
region.
The department revised down the death toll after previously
putting it at 10.
There are reports that four people, including two minors, are
missing in the wake of the extreme weather.
However, two of the deceased are in the process of being
identified and it is possible that these victims are among the
people who are currently considered missing.
The people reported as being missing included an eight year-old
boy, a 17-year-old girl and her 56-year-old mother.
Carlo Manfredi, the mayor of Castellone di Suasa, one of the
towns hit by the extreme weather, told Rai News 24 that it was
an "apocalyptic situation".
"Plants and trees were moved around like twigs," Manfredi said.
"Unfortunately, we are still searching for an eight-year-old
boy. "Last night we found the mother still alive.
"She was in her car when she saw the water coming and she got
out with the child in other arms. But then they got dragged
away".
The 17-year-old girl and her mother are thought to have been
swept away by flood waters at Barbara, near Senigallia, as they
were trying to get out of the area by car.
The girl's 21-year-oild brother managed to save himself by
hanging on to a large plant for two hours until help arrived.
Dozens of people managed to save themselves from the flood
waters by climbing onto roofs and trees, from where firefighters
were able to rescue them, the fire brigade said via Twitter.
Civil Protection Department Chief Fabrizio Curcio has rushed to
Marche to address the emergency. Marche Governor Francesco
Acquaroli said he had been called by President Sergio
Mattarella, who expressed his solidarity for the region, and
Premier Mario Draghi, who promised central government will
provide all the support the region needs.
Scientists say climate change caused by human activity is making
extreme weather events such as these storms more frequent and
more intense.
The Il Meteo.it weather website said these latest storms had
produced six months' worth of rainfall in just a few hours and
linked the extreme weather to "the climate changes that are
taking place".
"It is the legacy of the hot summer of 2022 which, due to the
hot sea, means there is a possibility of intense rainfall for at
least another month," it said.
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