Tuscany declares regional state of emergency after severe storms

Tuscany President Eugenio Giani has declared a regional state of emergency following severe weather events on August 20 and 21. An intense storm line caused widespread damage across several provinces, including Livorno, Lucca, Massa-Carrara, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato, Siena, and the Metropolitan City of Florence. While the Lunigiana area experienced heavy rainfall, much of the region was impacted by intense wind gusts reaching up to 110 km/h and approximately 21,000 lightning strikes.

The emergency declaration initiates a formal damage assessment process to determine the necessary resources for recovery and support. The regional government aims to prepare documentation to potentially request a national state of emergency. Future interventions will focus on assisting affected populations and funding urgent repairs. Financial aid for citizens will be restricted to damages involving primary residences.

In a separate development, President Giani visited the Rocca di Ripafratta to inspect restoration progress. A 375,000 euro investment, funded by the region and the municipality of San Giuliano Terme, is underway to recover the historic fortification's walkways and walls, aiming to make the site accessible to the public for cultural and tourism purposes.