A red weather alert issued Friday by
authorities in Florence, as well as in major cities across
Tuscany, after heavy rain swelled rivers and flooded streets was
eased on Saturday when weather conditions improved.
The Arno river, which at the Uffizi Station in Florence was at
4.05 metres on Friday night, still far from the second watch
level of 5.50 metres, remained below warning levels on Saturday
in Tuscany's main city as well as in nearby Pisa.
Tuscany Governor Eugenio Giani called off red alert flood
warnings for Florence and Pisa as well as for the towns of Ponte
a Signa, Montelupo, Empoli, Fucecchio, Pontedera and San
Giovanni alla Vena.
Meanwhile in the neighbouring Emilia-Romagna region, where vast
areas were also on red weather alert on Friday, all rivers were
below maximum alert levels, including the Lamone which late on
Friday had risked overflowing its banks in Faenza.
A red warning however remained in place in areas of both
regions, including in Ravenna in Emilia-Romagna where schools
and public venues remained closed.
In Tuscany, schools were also closed in the province of
Florence, among other cities, where "the most significant
problems" were reported due to the intense rain, as well as in
Mugello, Empoli and Sesto Fiorentino, north of the city, the
regional government said on Saturday.
Landslides were also recorded in the province of Prato, Pistoia
and Pisa, among others, local authorities said.
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