Severe Storms Bring Flooding and Damage to Versilia and Tuscany

A severe wave of severe weather struck northwestern Tuscany, bringing continuous heavy precipitation and significant rainfall peaks to the Upper Versilia region. Meteorological stations recorded roughly 200 millimeters of rain in just a few hours in Cardoso, while Palagnana in the municipality of Stazzema measured 222 millimeters, with over half falling during the first part of the day.

The rapid downpours caused local watercourses to swell quickly, raising the levels of the Vezza and Baccatoio rivers while the Versilia River reached its second warning level in Seravezza. In Solaio, a hillside hamlet of Pietrasanta, a local stream overflowed its banks, sending water onto the roadway and sweeping away several parked cars. Authorities reported no injuries, and operational crews utilized mechanical arms to clear branches and debris obstructing the riverbed.

Urban centers also faced severe disruptions and flooding. The municipality of Pietrasanta ordered the closure of the Avis vehicular underpass and the pedestrian underpass at the railway station, reporting widespread flooding on roadways, water infiltration in several homes, and collapsing boundary walls along streets. Officials urged residents to limit unnecessary travel.

In Stazzema, where roughly 230 to 250 millimeters of rain fell over a 24-hour period, rising waters and mudslides required the emergency evacuation of 12 people from a public housing building in Mulini di Giusti. Mayor Maurizio Verona stated that the situation was currently under control, noting that municipal teams assisted in safely returning students from local schools using municipal vehicles while structural safety checks were carried out.

Regional authorities and the Civil Protection department maintained yellow weather alerts across northwestern Tuscany for hydrogeological and hydraulic risks, extending warnings through the following day. Civil protection teams intervened to address localized flooding and landslides in neighboring areas, including Camaiore, Seravezza, and parts of the Serchio Valley such as Barga.

Emergency management officials emphasized that the alert system involves specific timeframes and localized geographic zones rather than uniform warnings across the entire province. Residents and travelers were advised to monitor official bulletins closely, exercise caution near watercourses and slopes, and avoid prone areas such as underpasses and fords while adverse weather conditions persist.