The Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta is setting funds aside in order to deal with the aftermath of Cyclone Cleopatra which swept through the island of Sardinia killing 17 people and flooding cities and streets on Monday, Reuters reported.
The cyclone delivered 450mm of rain overnight to the Mediterranean Island of Sardinia, causing river banks to swell and flood, leaving hundreds homeless as homes were carried away, according to Reuters.
Letta declared a state of emergency for the island on Tuesday so resources may be freed quicker in order to help the more affected areas still covered by muddy waters. The government has 20 million euros set aside for immediate rescue use, Reuters reported.
In the town of Olbia northeast of Sardinia, Mayor Gianni Giovannelli said the flooding began "like a bomb" and released the same amount of water that falls in Milan for six months in a matter of 90 minutes, according to Reuters.
Italy's government has been in a recession for over two years and questions about the government's ability to prepare for disasters are being brought up as the country begins to face more financial pressure, Reuters reported.
Antonello Frau, the head of Italy's geological service, said rescue responses and plans for dealing with sudden disasters need to be talked about.
"We're facing an exceptional event here which has put our system of territorial planning and management into crisis," Frau told Reuters. "We really have to assess how we manage these situations, which are becoming more frequent."
Legambiente, the main environmental group in Italy, pointed out the need to improve measures on how to handle floods that affect more than 6 million Italians, especially those living in coastal areas, Reuters reported.
According to the Red Cross, bridges have been swept away in Olbia and in the town of Nuoro causing hundreds of people to take shelter in larger centers and sports halls, Reuters reported. The regional governor Ugo Cappellacci told a local Italian news station the situation is one of the most tragic he has seen.
"The situation is tragic, the hotels in Olbia are full of people who have had to escape, but there are thousands who have damage to their homes," Cappellacci said, according to Reuters.
