Cyclone Erminio, a bridge between Molise and Abruzzo collapses and Italy is divided in two due to the flooding of a river on the Adriatic

Cyclone Erminio is transforming Southern Italy into a tormented territory: torrential rains, furious winds and intense snowfall have caused a succession of emergencies, particularly in Molise, Abruzzo, Puglia and southern Lazio. Flooding rivers, blocked roads, collapsed bridges and paralyzed railway lines tell of an Italy divided in two, where entire municipalities find themselves isolated and thousands of people evacuated. The effects of the cyclone did not spare any area: from the Molise coast to the Foggiano countryside, from the small mountain centers of Abruzzo to the major communication arteries.

Collapse of the bridge over the Trigno: emergency on the Molise-Abruzzo border

A sudden collapse interrupted one of the main arteries of the Central-South. At 9 this morning, the bridge over the Trigno river, on the border between Molise and Abruzzo on the Adriatica state road 16, collapsed in half after three days of torrential rain. The preventive closure of the road avoided tragedies: no vehicle was passing at the time of the collapse, as confirmed by the mayor of Montenero di Bisaccia, Simona Contucci. The bridge, monitored in the previous hours to verify a possible reopening, collapsed during the control operations, amplifying the seriousness of the situation for traffic and connections between Molise and Abruzzo.

Flooding and evacuations along the Molise coast

The incessant rain has transformed Lower Molise into an emergency area. In Termoli, around 150 people were evacuated and hosted in reception centers such as the PalaSabetta and the Schweitzer school gym. Similar situations occurred in Campomarino Lido and in the Guglionesi districts. The flooding affected neighborhoods and homes, causing traffic to stop and the Fire Brigade to be mobilized with amphibious vehicles and rafting dinghies, also thanks to the support of operators arriving from Modena, Latina, Frosinone and Ancona.

Rivers in flood and the Adriatic line blocked: Italy’s railways divided in two

Cyclone Erminio also caused flooding and interruptions in Abruzzo and Puglia. The flooding of the Osento river transformed the Adriatic railway line into a real wall of water, splitting Italy in two for connections between North and South. The suspension of trains between Fossacesia and Porto di Vasto forced Trenitalia into unprecedented cancellations and delays, affecting both regional trains and the high speed trains heading towards Puglia.

Thousands of travellers, in the midst of the rush for the Easter holidays, suddenly found themselves blocked: warning text messages invited them to reschedule their trips, while Trenitalia staff activated assistance in the Pescara and Ancona stations, as well as replacement bus services. The canceled trains include strategic convoys such as Bari-Milan, Lecce-Milan and Venice-Lecce, with delays reaching four hours.

The Cervaro in the province of Foggia instead flooded countryside and roads. Numerous Molise streams, such as the Biferno, have reached critical levels, forcing the closure of motorway toll booths and provincial roads. Over 800 interventions by the Fire Brigade were recorded in three days between Abruzzo, Molise and Puglia, with rescues for trapped motorists and isolated residents.

Landslides and snow

There are also many landslides. In Acquasanta Terme (Ascoli Piceno), around 90 people remained isolated in the hamlet of Pozza due to landslides that blocked access to the town. Interventions by the Provincial earthmoving vehicles and the Fire Brigade have created temporary passages, but the situation remains critical. In Alto Molise, in Capracotta, the accumulated snow exceeds one and a half metres, making constant monitoring necessary to prevent further landslides and road blocks.

Infrastructure emergency and disaster request

The president of the Province of Foggia, Giuseppe Nobiletti, officially requested the recognition of the state of natural disaster, underlining the hydrogeological instability and the fragility of the local road network. The 805 road works of art, including bridges and viaducts, and almost 3,000 kilometers of provincial roads require continuous interventions and adequate resources, otherwise emergencies will become increasingly frequent.

The intervention of the Civil Protection

The national Department of Civil Protection, led by Fabio Ciciliano, has activated a national crisis unit, coordinating the interventions of hundreds of operators. Emergency management included monitoring of hydrometric levels, controlled opening of dams such as that of Bomba sul Sangro, and support for isolated municipalities, guaranteeing timeliness and safety despite the violence of the rainfall. The weather situation remains unstable, with forecasts of further heavy rain and snow over the next 48 hours.

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