Flood Peak Expected Today in Po Valley as Rivers Approach Historic Levels

Hold your breath across the province as the peak of the flood is expected today from late afternoon to evening. Yesterday, in Piacenza and Cremona, historic levels from 1951 were exceeded by four centimeters; in Mantovano, unless the same happens, the situation will be very close, with the river still rising at a rate of 10 centimeters per hour. All law enforcement agencies are mobilized, embankments are guarded 24 hours a day; the prefect and mayors have issued evacuation orders for the floodplains affecting 400 people throughout the province. Several bridges have been closed, and the Magistrate for the Po is evaluating the possibility of cutting the larger floodplain embankments: those of Viadana and Restara di Torriana were flooded yesterday; the fate of the ones at Tabellano and Po morto di San Benedetto remains uncertain.

River levels and forecast

At every point along the Po riverbed, yesterday, the warning level was surpassed: 7.93 meters reached at Borforte, the reference level for Mantovano. In 1951, the level was 9.96 meters, and in 1994, it was 9.29 meters. However, the water level is still rising at 10 centimeters per hour at this point, and the flood is progressing very slowly, so it cannot be ruled out that it may rise an additional two meters.

Emergency measures and management

Prefect Gianni Ietto convened the mayors of the most affected areas, along with officials from the Magistrate for the Po, to assess the situation and prepare the emergency plan. Meanwhile, evacuation of the floodplains was arranged (by 6 p.m. yesterday). “If not all are evacuated,” Ietto explained, “we will resort to law enforcement.” A continuous guard of the embankments has also been arranged, both to prevent looting and to monitor the situation. Additionally, the prefect urged less affected municipalities to deploy their municipal police for river surveillance. Tests of drinking water have been requested in areas where groundwater might be contaminated.

Volunteer activities and officials’ efforts

All volunteer organizations involved in civil protection are activated, including the Padus association based in Sustinente, Delta di Borgofranco, amateur radio operators, and retired Carabinieri. The municipal offices along the Po river are open 24 hours a day, as is the prefecture and the Magistrate for the Po. Engineers and officials from the hydraulic agency are working intensively, operating a command center where staff rotate shifts: headed by engineer Salvatore Rizzo, along with surveyors Giovanni Marinelli, Giuseppe Morselli, Antonio Vocile, and Luigi Sinigardi.

Forecasts and updates

The predictions for today are still tentative. “It’s difficult to say exactly when the flood peak will arrive,” explained engineer Rizzo. “Levels are constantly changing because the embankments in Cremonese are still breaking, and as the river floods the floodplains, it drops significantly. The same is happening in Mantovano. We need to assess the situation hour by hour. Overall, the flood should reach its maximum by evening.”