A massive waterspout churned across the sea off the coast of northern Italy, narrowly missing a tourist boat as the country grappled with severe storms and deadly flash floods. Dramatic footage captured the towering vortex near San Michele di Pagana on Thursday morning, with a person heard exclaiming in fear as the phenomenon moved towards the vessel.
While the waterspout ultimately caused no damage to the boat, other vessels in the vicinity were seen rocking violently. Local reports indicated the waterspout passed close to Santa Margherita before dissipating.
Widespread Flooding and Fatalities
The extreme weather also triggered significant flooding in parts of Veneto and Friuli, where a slow-moving thunderstorm delivered between 100mm and 200mm of rain overnight. Footage from Lignano showed torrential rain flooding roads and cafe seating areas. The region remained under a yellow weather alert.
These events followed earlier storms that killed two women. One 83-year-old woman drowned in Latisana after becoming trapped in her car during flash floods. A police officer attempted a rescue but sustained injuries and could not save her. In the Sinalunga area, a second elderly woman died when a tornado struck, reportedly causing glass to shatter and sever a major vein in her leg. The tornado also damaged a sports hall roof and uprooted trees.
Emergency Response and Further Disruption
Northern and central Italy experienced severe thunderstorms, with Tuscany recording over 63,000 lightning strikes in a 12-hour period. Emergency crews responded to more than 200 rescue operations nationwide, and dozens of residents were displaced from their homes. In Milan, the Lambro River overflowed its banks, inundating city streets. The Tagliamento River also breached its banks, flooding homes in several towns.
Firefighters in Venice rescued a pregnant woman trapped in her car amidst heavy rainfall. In Cataeggio, near Sondrio, approximately 45 people were evacuated from their homes due to a landslide triggered by the downpours. Brescia's Civili hospital also experienced flooding, and firefighters in the Marche region responded to over 100 calls regarding damaged buildings and fallen trees. Emergency services continue to manage the widespread disruption caused by the ongoing extreme weather conditions.