Chieti schools reopen after severe weather and flooding

Schools of all levels in Chieti, Italy, have resumed educational activities following a two-day suspension caused by extreme weather. The suspension was ordered by Mayor Giovanni Legnini after heavy rainfall led to flooding, mud on roads, and water infiltration in several public buildings, including schools and hospital departments.

In a single day, the region recorded over 100 millimeters of rain, representing approximately 14% of the average annual precipitation for the last decade. The storm caused significant damage to local infrastructure, including flooded underpasses in via Vomano and Fosso Calabrese, and road damage in areas such as Tricalle, Brecciarola, and Chieti Scalo.

Mayor Legnini noted that the city's hydraulic network is inadequate for such intense, concentrated rainfall. He has contacted the ACA to initiate a hydraulic study of the city's infrastructure and to monitor the water drainage network to address vulnerabilities related to hydrogeological instability and flooding risks.