In the Emilia-Romagna region of the country, at least nine people have perished and about 10,000 more have been forced from their homes.
According to the AFP news agency, the mayor of neighbouring Forli described his city as being “on its knees, devastated, and in pain,” while the mayor of Castel Bolognese described the situation as “catastrophic.”
Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, presided over a crisis conference and afterwards expressed her gratitude to those who had put themselves in danger to save the victims.