High tides, heavy #rain cause more #flooding across #Venice, northern #Italy
Venice has been hit by further high water levels after weeks of flooding brought the lagoon city virtually to its knees.
The famous St Mark’s Square was closed briefly on Sunday as the acqua alta (peak tide level) reached 130 centimetres (4.26 feet).
Tourists and Venetians were forced to wade through the high waters yet again after weeks of rain and wind caused further flooding across the city.
The city beloved around the world for its canals, historic architecture and art was hit by a high tide at 187cm 6.14 feet) on November 12. That was just short of the record of 194cm (6.4 feet) set in 1966 and caused the city’s worst flooding in 50 years.
In normal conditions, tides of 80-90cm (31.5 – 35 inches) are generally seen as high but manageable.
With four tides above 140cm (4.6 feet) since November 11, this is the worst month for high tides in Venice since 1872 when official statistics were first produced.
The UNESCO world heritage city is home to 50,000 people and gets around 36 million visitors every year.
Further west on the other side of Italy, a portion of a motorway bridge linking Savona to Turin collapsed on Sunday.
Fire service personnel inspected the bridge on the A6 highway near Savona, after huge chunks of concrete plummeted to the ground due to a landslide.
According to a first inspection, local authorities said that there were no confirmed reports of fatalities or injuries in the area but firefighters were checking the area by helicopter.
Governor of the Liguria region, Giovanni Toti, asked residents to remain in their houses as much of Italy has been pummelled by torrential rains in recent days, with widespread flooding, especially in the northern regions.
The worst of the heavy rain is now clearing away to the southeast, moving across Greece and heading towards western Turkey. There will be further showers across Italy later in the week but they will not be anywhere near as heavy or prolonged.
Courtesy of aljazeera.com
Deadly Severe #Floods Hit South East #France
Emergency services were called out to 2,300 interventions after floods in southeastern France from 23 November, 2019. Photo: Securite Civile France
Severe flooding in southeastern France has left at least 4 people dead with 1 person still missing. Hundreds have evacuated their homes and emergency services have carried out over 2,000 interventions, many by helicopter.
Some areas of southeastern France recorded almost 400mm of rain between 21 and 24 November.
Several rivers including the Argens, burst their banks, flooding homes and prompting dozens of high water rescues and evacuations. Thousands of homes were left without electricity and road and train transport was severely disrupted.
France’s Ministry of Interior said that emergency services had carried out more then 2,300 interventions in Var and Alpes-Maritimes departments. The government of Var department said that 625 people had evacuated their homes and were staying in 14 emergency accommodation centres.
The government of Var department reported flood-related fatalities in the villages of Le Muy and Cabasse. One person is still reported missing in Saint-Antonin-du-Var. Local media reported that 2 people died after their vehicle was trapped in flood water near the town of Tanneron on 24 November.
The town of Roquebrune-sur-Argens in Var Department was particularly badly affected and only accessible by boat or helicopter. Levels of the Argens river in the town jumped from around 3 metres to 7.12 metres on 23 November, the second highest level on record behind the June 2010 record of 7.7 metres.
The Endre river at Le Muy reached record levels of 2.88 metres on 23 November, beating the previous high of 2.72 metres set in November 2011.
Courtesy of floodlist.com
Deadly #Floods After 140mm of #Rain in 2 Days in #Djibouti, #Africa
Nine people have died in floods in Djibouti City, capital of Djibouti, after almost a year’s worth of rain fell in 2 days. The Government of Djibouti has declared a state of emergency.
News and information agency Agence Djiboutienne d’Information (ADI) said that 140 mm of rain fell in 48 hours to 21 November, 2019. According to WMO figures, average yearly rainfall in the city is around 164 mm.
Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) reported that 9 people have died and 30,000 families have been affected. Flooding has damaged buildings and infrastructure. According to ADI, fatalities include five members of the same family who died when their house collapsed during the heavy rain. The tragedy occurred in Balbala, a southern suburb of Djibouti City, located west of the river Ambouli.
The European Union activated its Copernicus emergency mapping service and one delineation map has already been produced. A DG ECHO regional rapid response expert has been deployed to Djibouti.
Courtesy of floodlist.com
Deadly heavy #rain triggers massive #landslides and flash #floods in West #Pokot County, #Kenya
Courtesy of Kenya Red Cross
Hours of heavy rain in western Kenya triggered massive landslides and flash floods in West Pokot County on 23 November, 2019.
The government of West Pokot County said that, as of 24 November, 54 people have been confirmed dead and 46 people are still missing. Sixteen survivors have been admitted to Kapenguria County Referral Hospital.
County officials said the catastrophic landslides hit Tapach, Weiwei and Batei Wards of West Pokot. Houses were damaged or destroyed by the gushing rivers of sludge, boulders and uprooted trees. Authorities said that more than 10,500 people have been displaced and there is an urgent need for humanitarian assistance.
The county government said that a multi-agency team comprising Kenya Defence Forces, Kenya Police, Kenya Red Cross and County Disaster Management Unit are on the ground. A medical team is also expected from Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. Psychosocial support desk has been set up at Kapenguria County Referral Hospital.
Roads have been cut and bridges wiped out, severely hindering rescue and relief operations.
Heavy rain has also caused flooding and landslides in other areas of the country, including Taita Taveta, Tana River, Meru and Uasin Gishu counties.
Kenya Red Cross said that “Rains continue to pound Taita Taveta with heavy downpour experienced at the highlands of Wundanyi, Rongé and Vuria. Landslides have been reported at Mbengonyi, Mndangenyi, Msau and Mbale.”
In Tana River County, Kenya Red Cross reported that over 1,000 households have been displaced in Ziwani and other locations after the Tana River burst its banks.
According to Red Cross reports, a number of houses have been reportedly swept away after river Thanantu broke its banks in Mikinduri in Meru County. Families have been displaced in Turbo, Uasin Gishu County, after the Turbo River broke its banks.
Courtesy of floodlist.com
50,000 Affected by #Floods in North and Central Provinces of #Congo Republic
The World Food Program (WFP) reports that flooding has affected around 50,000 people in parts of the Republic of the Congo, also called Congo-Brazzaville.
Flooding began around the end of October. Media reported that thousands of houses and other buildings including schools have been severely damaged or washed away. Roads and infrastructure also suffered damage. According to local media, wide areas of crops have been destroyed causing concern about food shortages.
Much of the flooding has occurred in low-lying areas along the Ubangi river (also known as Oubangui) in the northern departments of Likouala and Cuvette, and where the Ubangi and Congo rivers meet in the central Plateaux department.
Flood water reached roof level in some areas and residents have moved to higher ground. A state of natural disaster has been confirmed by the Congo-Brazzaville government.
Levels of the Ubangi river upstream from Congo-Brazzaville have been high for several weeks now. In late October the river broke its banks flooding wide areas of Central African Republic. By mid-November around 60,000 people had been affected.
Around 40,000 people were displaced by flood waters from the river in Sud-Ubangi and Nord-Ubangi provinces in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Courtesy of floodlist.com
Hundreds Displaced as Severe Weather Hits in #Iran
Iranian Red Crescent (IRC) has carried out rescues and evacuations after a period of severe including heavy rain, snowfall and cold temperatures that has swept the country since last week.
IRC reported that it has pumped flood water from 95 residential buildings. Over 300 people have been given emergency shelter. In mountainous areas roads have been blocked and IRC have recovered 283 vehicles from the snow.
IRC said relief supplies have been distributed among the affected people in provinces of Isfahan, Bushehr, Tehran, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Zanjan, Semnan, Fars, Ghazvin, Qom, Golestan, Gilan, Lorestan, Mazandaran and Hormozgan.
From initial reports it is not clear which areas have been affected by flooding, however heavy rain was reported in Gilan, Bushehr, Mazandaran and Hormozgan provinces.
Bandar-e Anzali, a city of Gilan Province in northern Iran recorded 118mm of rain in 24 hours to 19 November, according to WMO figures. Babolsar in Mazandaran Province, recorded 66.6mm of rain in 24 hours to 21 November.
The country has endured a spate of flash floods over the last 2 months. Northern provinces saw deadly floods hit in mid-October and again in early November. Flooding hit southern provinces in early October.
Courtesy of floodlist.com
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