Floods Hit North-Western Italy - Advice and Information

Summary: Ongoing heavy rains in Italy have caused rivers to burst their banks and subsequent flooding in north-western Tuscany and parts of Veneto.

Which areas are the worst affected?

In Tuscany, Massa is the worst hit, while the cities of Vicenza and Verona in Veneto are also badly affected. There are also reports of widespread flooding in Salerno.

A likelihood of flooding is also expected in Tuscany's Viareggio and Lucca regions, as well as rural areas along the Po river in the north.

Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) Advice:

If you are visiting or planning a trip to Tuscany and its surrounds, the FCO advises that you:

• Take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance prior to travelling
• Register with LOCATE to let us know when and where you are travelling abroad
• Stay updated via local news media
• Confirm with your tour operator ahead of time whether your holiday destination is affected
• Check your flight status before leaving for the airport
• Obey the instructions of local authorities if you are already in a flooded area
• Follow FCO updates on Facebook and see @britishabroad on Twitter
• Get further assistance from the British Consulate in Florence or the British Embassy in Rome

Extent Of Flood Damage:

It is estimated that the floods, road closures, and landslides have amounted to €1 billion ($1.4 billion) in damage to one of Italy's most productive regions. After visiting the flood-ravaged area this week, Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi allocated more than $400 million towards aid in Veneto.

Extensive Veneto farmlands are under water, where floods destroyed entire crops of tobacco, fruit and vegetables, while also drowning over 150,000 livestock. The heavy rain in Salerno damaged an aqueduct, leaving this area and 13 other municipalities without water.

For the time being, the government has suspended the mortgage payments of people hit by this natural disaster, due to an agreement with the Italian Banking Association.