[ad_1]
Formula 1 personnel had been instructed to leave the track on Tuesday, before being told to stay away on Wednesday; three people have been killed by flooding in the region, with thousands evacuated from their homes; Imola had been set to host the sixth round of the 2023 season
Last Updated: 17/05/23 12:24pm
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Severe floods are widespread across Italy’s Emilia Romagna region after heavy rains caused the Savio River to swell and flood the city of Cesena, where this video was filmed. Credit: Sky News
Severe floods are widespread across Italy’s Emilia Romagna region after heavy rains caused the Savio River to swell and flood the city of Cesena, where this video was filmed. Credit: Sky News
The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix has been cancelled amid heavy flooding in northern Italy.
Formula 1 personnel had previously been instructed to leave the paddock at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari on Tuesday, before being advised to stay away on Wednesday as heavy rain continued to fall.
The decision came with Italy’s most severe red weather warnings in place for flooding and landslides, with other parts of the region having already been devastated.
The rising level of water in the Santerno river, which runs just metres from the track, had been of particular concern and was being closely monitored by F1 officials and local authorities.
There has been heavy rainfall at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
Italian officials confirmed on Wednesday morning that the flooding had killed at least five people in the wider Emilia-Romagna region, while around 5,000 had been evacuated from their homes.
The casualties follow two deaths in the region caused by flooding earlier in May, with heavy rains having made a devastating impact on land that had been parched by a prolonged drought.
Before the cancellation was announced, Ferrari said in a statement: “Our thoughts and sympathies are with the people of Emilia-Romagna and Marche as they deal with the destruction caused by the heavy rain and flooding currently affecting the area.”
F1’s only other Italy-based team, AlphaTauri, made an appeal on Wednesday morning for donations to support those affected by flooding in the region.
The Emilia Romagna GP was scheduled to be the first of a triple-header of European races, meaning the season is set to continue in Monaco next weekend, before moving on to Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix.
More to follow…
[ad_2]
Source link
