Two tourists from Bavaria are missing after heavy rainfall and floods hit Tuscany. Authorities are searching for a grandmother and her five-month-old grandchild from Munich. Despite challenging conditions, the local fire department remains hopeful.
Heavy Rain Causes Floods Near Pisa and Livorno
Late Monday night, heavy rains caused widespread flooding in the area around Pisa and Livorno, a popular tourist region in Tuscany. In the town of Montecatini Val di Cecina, the Sterza creek overflowed, flooding the area. The missing individuals include a grandmother and her five-month-old grandchild, both from Munich.
Grandmother and Grandchild Swept Away by Floodwaters
According to the fire department, the pair was swept away by the floodwaters of the Sterza creek. The Italian police confirmed that the missing persons were on vacation with their family in a holiday home. The baby’s parents and grandfather, who were also on the trip, survived the incident.
Reports suggest that a massive floodwave, up to 2.5 meters high, rushed into the house, dragging the family with it. The parents and grandfather managed to hold onto pillars and other solid objects, eventually climbing to the roof for safety. Unfortunately, the grandmother and her grandchild were carried away by the powerful water.
Search Efforts Continue, Fire Department Stays Hopeful
The search for the missing grandmother and baby has been ongoing since the early hours of Tuesday morning. Divers, rescue dogs, and regular emergency crews are all involved in the search, according to a fire department spokesperson. “We are not giving up hope,” the spokesperson said. However, there are concerns that the missing individuals may be trapped under tree branches and other debris in the creek.
Tuscany’s regional president, Eugenio Giani, noted that the area had not experienced such heavy rainfall in decades. “In just six hours, 226 millimeters of rain fell in some areas, more than what typically falls in an entire rainy month. This level of rainfall has not been recorded since weather statistics began,” Giani wrote on social media.
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