Severe weather in central and southern Italy, the Trigno bridge collapses: Abruzzo is ready to declare an emergency.

Central and Southern Italy continues to experience a violent wave of severe weather, particularly affecting the Adriatic coast with heavy rain, snow, strong winds, landslides, flooding, and flooding. The Civil Protection Department has issued a red alert for Abruzzo, Molise, and Puglia, warning of a critical phase that in the last few hours has severely impacted regional safety, road traffic, and rail connections.

The collapse of the Trigno bridge is a symbol of the emergency

The most serious incident of the day was the collapse of the bridge over the Trigno River along the Adriatic State Road 16, in the Montenero di Bisaccia area, on the border between Molise and Abruzzo. The collapse severed one of the most important connections on the Adriatic coast, exacerbating a situation already compromised by flooding and the swollen river. The Larino Public Prosecutor's Office opened a case for negligent collapse, and in the hours that followed, the possibility emerged that a car had been involved in the collapse, with the search being entrusted to rescuers, aircraft, and firefighter divers.

Broken connections between Molise and Abruzzo

The collapse of the Trigno viaduct has effectively interrupted regular coastal connections between Molise and Abruzzo, forcing authorities to urgently reorganize transportation. To ensure an alternative route, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has ordered a complete toll exemption on the A14 motorway between Vasto Sud and Termoli, effective 4:00 PM. This measure is designed to support residents, workers, and businesses in a region suddenly divided in two. The ministry has also announced its intention to appoint a special commissioner to expedite the bridge's reconstruction.

Molise remains among the most affected areas

In Molise, the emergency isn't limited to the collapsed bridge. In Termoli, approximately 150 people have been evacuated due to flooding along the coast, with the most critical situations concentrated in the Rio Vivo and Marinelle areas. Assistance and monitoring operations continue unabated, while the internal road network remains severely compromised by landslides, mudslides, and flooding. The overall picture confirms the fragility of a region grappling with persistent rainfall and swollen rivers.

Landslides, floods, and chaos at stations in Abruzzo

Abruzzo is also among the hardest-hit regions. In Pescara, the river has overflowed the floodplain, while several areas have experienced flooding, landslides, road closures, and disruptions to the utility network. Last night revealed the full extent of the emergency: approximately 800 people were stranded at the Pescara train station after the Adriatic line in the Vasto area was interrupted due to the overflowing of the Osento River. Dams, waterways, and areas most exposed to flooding and hydrogeological risk remain under observation.

Marsilio announces the request for a state of emergency

Faced with such a widespread situation, Abruzzo Regional President Marco Marsilio announced that, once the most acute phase of the weather event is over and the damage assessment is complete, a request for a state of emergency will be formally declared. The decision has already been communicated to Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci and the head of the Civil Protection Department, Fabio Ciciliano. This is a significant political and administrative step, as it confirms that ordinary management is no longer sufficient to address an event that is impacting infrastructure, families, businesses, and essential services.

Puglia, rivers under pressure and dozens of rescue operations

Puglia is experiencing similarly delicate times, especially in the Foggia area, where firefighters have intervened to recover dozens of vehicles and rescue numerous stranded people. The Fortore River has reached very high alert levels, while the Cervaro and Ofanto Rivers are constantly monitored for the risk of further flooding. The Province of Foggia has already requested the recognition of a state of natural disaster, emphasizing that the damage to the road network and infrastructure is extensive and requires structural investments that can no longer be postponed.

Over 800 interventions by the Fire Brigade

The scale of the emergency is also confirmed by the rescue numbers. Since midnight on March 31, firefighters have carried out over 800 interventions in Abruzzo, Molise, and Puglia, with hundreds of personnel and equipment deployed on the most critical fronts. In Abruzzo, the hardest-hit provinces are Pescara and Chieti, in Molise the brunt of the emergency is concentrated between Campobasso and Isernia, while in Puglia, the Foggia area continues to be the center of rescue efforts. This data, more than anything else, speaks volumes about the extraordinary nature of the unfolding event.

Trains and roads, a still fragile network

On the transportation front, the situation remains slowly evolving. RFI initially announced the suspension of the Adriatica line between Fossacesia and Porto di Vasto due to the flooding of the Osento River, with replacement buses operating between Abruzzo and Puglia. Subsequently, the gradual resumption of service on the route between Porto di Vasto and Fossacesia was announced, but with precautionary slowdowns and the possibility of delays, cancellations, and changes. The Foggia-Caserta line has also been reactivated, albeit in a situation that remains extremely delicate.

Snow isolates the Abruzzo Apennines

Along with the rain and flooding, Abruzzo is also experiencing a snow emergency. In Passolanciano, the Army intervened to rescue people stranded in an isolated hotel by exceptional snowfall, with several meters of snow and impassable roads. Reopening roads in some mountainous areas will require more time and special equipment, confirming a storm that simultaneously affected the coast, plains, and inland areas with different, yet equally dangerous, phenomena.

The expected improvement does not erase the damage account

Forecasts indicate a gradual improvement in the coming hours and a return to more stable conditions over the weekend, but the next phase will be to assess the damage. Collapsed roads, closed or collapsed bridges, interrupted rail links, evacuated families, slowed economic activity, and flooded countryside have already taken a heavy toll. The impression is that this wave of severe weather has forcefully reopened the issue of hydrogeological vulnerability in Central and Southern Italy and the need for structural investments in prevention, maintenance, and infrastructure safety.