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Storm chaos in Bardonecchia: tourist resort under water!
Severe storms cause chaos in Bardonecchia, Italy: focus on evacuations, rescue operations and flood management.
Storm chaos in Bardonecchia: tourist resort under water!
On Monday evening, June 30, 2025, severe storms struck the Alps, which had catastrophic consequences for the region. In Italy, heavy rains turned a seemingly harmless river into a raging torrent, devastating a small town in the Piedmont region. In the holiday resort of Bardonecchia, residents lost a loyal soul: a 70-year-old man died when he was hit by a flash flood while leaving his car. This reports ksta.de.
Chaos and evacuations
Video footage from Bardonecchia shows dark water and massive amounts of mud overflowing the banks. The fire brigade was in continuous operation and was able to rescue at least ten people trapped in the flood as well as others who were stuck in their vehicles. The mayor urged residents to stay in their homes. A summer camp with around 150 children had to be evacuated. They were brought to safety in a sports hall - a circumstance that saved the police and rescue workers valuable time.
The alarm was also raised in the nearby Tyrolean community of Gschnitz. Here, citizens were asked to stay in their homes or move to higher floors while the first landslides and mudslides caused damage. A state helicopter was deployed to evacuate people from the danger area. Fortunately, the community with its 400 residents has so far been spared any serious injuries or damage to buildings.
Flood risk management as a preventive measure
Recent flood events and associated challenges also include flood risk management, which is essential to prevent damage. Like that Federal Environment Agency clarifies, complete protection against flooding is an illusion. This makes preventative measures that include adapted construction and an effective warning system for the population all the more important.
In the past, extreme weather events, particularly the floods in Germany in July 2021, have highlighted the need to improve flood prevention concepts. The measures required by EU Directive 2007/60/EC are essential for the sustainable development of risk management strategies. In order to avoid future disasters, flood hazard and risk maps are created to help better assess the risks and plan appropriate prevention measures.
Outlook for the coming days
Clean-up work has already begun in Bardonecchia, while emergency services are doing everything they can to keep the situation under control. These devastating events show how unpredictable nature can be and how important it is to be well prepared. It remains to be hoped that those responsible in the affected regions learn from these events and further develop preventative strategies to counteract such disasters at an early stage in the future.