The images are impressive. Northern Italy, like much of the eastern half of France, was in the grip of violent storms this Saturday. The Italian regions of Piedmont and the Aosta Valley were particularly affected at the end of the day, and several municipalities found themselves trapped by the rising waters.
In Noasca, a village of less than 200 inhabitants located around twenty kilometers from the French border, the images posted on social networks demonstrate the seriousness of the situation. More than 100 mm of rain fell there during the day, according to the local press. Located below a valley at an altitude of 1,000 m, the town suffered heavy flooding after waterfalls, leading to a landslide which swept away everything in its path.
Further up, in the Aosta Valley, the town of Cogne found itself isolated because of these storms. Videos of vehicles being swept away at high speed by the floods were filmed and broadcast by residents of the region. According to Corriere della Sera, other towns in the region, some full of tourists, are affected by bad weather and have been forced to ban traffic.
Severe hailstorms have also been reported in the region. So far, no reports of injuries or casualties have been released by the Italian authorities or the local press.
