Salerno – A violent thunderstorm took the Campania city by surprise this morning, triggering widespread flooding and disruptions that paralyzed traffic. The downpour, which lasted just over half an hour, was concentrated primarily in the eastern part of the capital, where torrential rains quickly submerged roads and sidewalks, creating chaos with stranded cars and pedestrians in distress.
Mayor Vincenzo Napoli, speaking on the sidelines of a press conference at the City Hall, described the events as "significant minutes of rain," highlighting the limitations of the hydraulic infrastructure. "The storm drains are regularly maintained by Salerno Sistemi," he explained, "but when the volume of water exceeds a certain level, the sewers can no longer accommodate the flow. In these cases, the overflow valves are activated and the water is channeled out to sea to prevent further damage. Otherwise, the manholes burst, worsening the risk of flooding."
The disruptions aren't limited to traffic: several eastern neighborhoods, such as Pastena and Fratte, have seen water levels of up to 30 centimeters in some places, resulting in commuter delays and temporary closures of some roads. Firefighters and Civil Protection responded to pumping and diversions, but the phenomenon highlights the chronic weaknesses of Salerno's sewer system, already under scrutiny after similar events in the past. No injuries have been reported so far, but authorities are monitoring the weather to prevent further rain this afternoon.
Forecasts for the coming days indicate an improvement, but the episode has reignited the debate on urban resilience to climate change, with the City Council calling for urgent investments in maintenance and expansion of water networks.
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