On April 17, 2025, northern Italy faced a severe weather crisis, particularly affecting the Piedmont region. Heavy rainfall, strong winds, and the risk of flooding led to widespread disruptions across approximately one hundred municipalities. The rain, especially intense in the Torinese Biellese and Vercellese areas, prompted the issuance of a red alert for hydrogeological risk in several valleys, including Val Sesia, Cervo, Chiusella, Valli Orco, Lanzo, and Sangone. An orange alert was also declared for Alta Valsusa, Valli Chisone, Pellice, Po, and Tanaro, while a yellow alert was in place for Valli Varaita, Belbo, Bormida, and Scrivia.
The situation escalated quickly, with reports of significant rainfall accumulation: 105 mm in Domodossola, 96 mm in Larecchio, 80 mm in Boccioleto, and 110 mm in Piano Audi, among others. These intense precipitation levels caused rivers like the Toce and Sesia to rise dangerously, with the Po River exceeding the danger threshold in San Sebastiano.
Rescue operations were ramped up, with over 400 firefighters deployed across the region, including reinforcements from Tuscany. The regional Civil Protection activated four provincial and 180 municipal control centers, coordinating the efforts of more than 1,000 volunteers from various organizations, including the Italian Red Cross. Governor Alberto Cirio stated, "We have some critical situations, especially for landslides and flooding. It will rain for several more hours, so we urge everyone to stay safe and stay informed."
As the weather worsened, evacuations were ordered in several areas. In Borgosesia, 150 people were evacuated from the Isola district due to the potential risks posed by the rising Sesia River. Additionally, 40 residents were evacuated in Villadossola, and five families were forced to leave their homes in Castellamonte due to landslides and flooding.
In Turin, the Ferdinando di Savoia and Amedeo VIII bridges were closed as the Stura River approached critical levels. The city’s Civil Protection urged residents to avoid city parks, particularly the Pellerina, and to limit travel to essential trips only.
Rail services were severely disrupted, with the Biella train station closed and multiple train routes canceled, including services between Settimo Torinese and Rivarolo, and between Santhià and Biella. Trenitalia implemented bus replacements for affected routes. The situation was compounded by a landslide that blocked the Premosello-Domodossola railway line.
In the Ossola region, a landslide isolated the village of Macugnaga, and residents were advised to move to upper floors of their homes due to rising water levels in the Toce River. The flooding also led to the evacuation of six people in Baceno, where a swollen waterway posed a significant threat.
The heavy rains caused extensive damage, with reports of numerous landslides and road closures across the region. In Castellamonte, the mayor noted about 60 critical points due to landslides and collapses, leading to the closure of various roads. A bridge in Biellese collapsed, connecting Mongrando and Borriana, fortunately without any vehicles passing at the time.
In Valle d’Aosta, the situation remained precarious, with power outages affecting nearly half of the municipalities. The region was under an orange alert for hydrogeological risk until midnight, with expectations of a downgrade to yellow for the following day.
The Egyptian Museum in Turin had to close due to damage to its electrical systems caused by the rain, with plans to reopen the next day. Meanwhile, the Frejus tunnel was closed due to heavy snowfall in Savoy, France, affecting cross-border traffic.
As the crisis unfolded, the regional authorities continued to monitor river levels closely, anticipating further increases due to ongoing rainfall. The Po River was expected to approach danger levels in several sections, particularly in San Sebastiano and Crescentino.
Overall, the situation in Piedmont highlighted the vulnerabilities of the region to severe weather events, prompting calls for increased preparedness and response capabilities. As the emergency response continued, residents were urged to remain vigilant and heed safety advisories from local authorities.
