Rome storm knocks down trees, blocks streets

A severe downburst storm hit Rome and surrounding areas, causing several large trees to fall onto roads and parked vehicles. In the capital, a platane crashed onto a taxi and four other cars on Via Ostiense, prompting police and rescue teams to close the street and manage traffic. Similar incidents occurred on Via San Giovanni in Laterano, Via Tiburtina, and in the nearby town of Anguillara, where fallen trees blocked roads and disrupted public transport routes.

The municipal authorities classified the affected trees as high‑risk after prior inspections and, following the storm’s violent winds on June 2, deemed their removal necessary for public safety. Despite the breeding season for birds, experts were consulted to protect any nests before the urgent felling of six trees in the city’s peripheral districts.

No injuries were reported, but the fallen timber caused significant traffic delays and required temporary road closures while safety crews cleared the debris.