Severe Tornado Ravages Northern Rome, Toppling Trees and Halting Traffic

A violent tornado swept through the northern districts of Rome this morning, with wind speeds exceeding 100 km/h. The storm ripped down roughly 60 trees in neighborhoods such as Conca d’Oro, Montesacro, Tufello and Prati Fiscali, causing extensive damage to vehicles—including a Maserati that was narrowly missed by a falling branch—and to market stalls on Via Val di Lanzo. Major thoroughfares like Via Salaria, the Tangenziale Est and other arterial roads were blocked, bringing traffic to a standstill.

No serious injuries were reported; the president of Municipio Roma III, Paolo Marchionne, said, “Fortunatamente non si registrano feriti gravi.” Emergency services, including the fire brigade and civil protection, carried out more than 120 interventions to clear debris, secure dangerous trees and restore traffic signals. Mayor Roberto Gualtieri monitored the response, noting the extraordinary nature of the event and promising swift restoration of normal traffic conditions.

The incident has prompted calls for a thorough inspection of urban tree safety, especially near schools, and an assessment of potential structural damage to residential buildings caused by the falling debris.