Severe Storms Strike Europe: Floods and Emergency Alerts in Italy
Storm Charles has unleashed severe floods and high winds across Italy, Portugal, and France, triggering emergency alerts, evacuations, and flight cancellations.
Severe storms generated by Atlantic storm Charles have triggered widespread flooding across popular tourist regions in Italy, Portugal, and France, prompting emergency alerts and evacuations.
In Italy, Tuscany declared a red alert as the Frigido River overflowed its banks in the town of Massa, forcing at least 100 residents to evacuate their homes, with some spending the night in a local sports hall. Dramatic footage captured cars submerged and swept away in currents, while buses waded through high waters in La Spezia. In Venice, water levels surged to 110 centimeters compared to the usual 30 centimeters. Authorities also issued orange alerts for Liguria and Emilia-Romagna, and a yellow alert for Sicily.
Simultaneously, Portugal faced severe disruptions as storm Charles grounded more than 200 departing flights. Schools, supermarkets, and businesses closed across multiple districts, and severe flooding hit road tunnels in Lisbon. Wind gusts exceeded 121 kilometers per hour on the mainland and reached 130 kilometers per hour on the island of Madeira, while the typically sunny Algarve region was placed under a red alert.
Along the French Riviera, the severe weather triggered a major rockslide near the town of Menton, forcing road closures. French meteorological services issued yellow warnings for heavy rain, flooding, and coastal surges, urging motorists to exercise extreme caution and check route updates before traveling.
