Driver in distress – firefighter tries to help and dies

Italy is battling severe storms. A firefighter died during a rescue operation. Weather services are warning of further heavy rain.

Foggia – Heavy storms have hit Europe in recent days. Now floods have also hit Italy. A firefighter died tragically on Tuesday (September 17) during a rescue operation in the Italian region of Apulia. According to authorities, masses of water swept away the 59-year-old's firefighting vehicle. The man was drunk at the time. The incident occurred near the municipality of San Severo.

Firefighter tries to help in an emergency – and dies during rescue operation

According to the authorities, the man wanted to help other drivers in an emergency situation. Together with colleagues, he intervened when the occupants of another vehicle with a breakdown were surprised by the masses of water, as well as The Mezzogiorno Newspaper reported. He and his fire department were on their way back from another operation in the region.

The emergency services discovered the man's body about 700 meters from the scene of the accident in a canal along a state road between the municipalities of San Severo and Apricena. The newspaper reports that the man would have turned 60 in a month. According to the authorities, he is about to pay his rent.

Severe storms flood Europe – more heavy rain expected in Italy

The severe storms are currently dominating many parts of Europe. In Italy, Rome and Tuscany in particular are affected by flooding – but the north of Italy and the southeast in the Apulia region are also not spared. The regions of Piedmont and Lombardy in particular are affected first. Locals as well as holidaymakers in Italy are badly affected.

According to weather forecasts, there will be further heavy rain in large parts of Italy until Friday. Meteorologist Lorenzo Tedici said on Wednesday: “We will experience at least 48 hours of storms that are entirely in keeping with autumn. This year, the torrential rains have come a little too early.”

The flood situation in Saxony, the Czech Republic and Poland is also still very tense. Although the water level in Austria is going down again in many places, some places are still completely cut off from the outside world. On Tuesday, emergency services found another flood victim – the fifth person in Austria to die as a result of the storm. (bk/dpa)