Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has pledged her commitment to supporting the recovery efforts in the flood-hit areas of northern Italy. After cutting her visit to the

G7 summit in Japan short, Meloni returned to Italy to witness the devastation firsthand.

During her tour of towns in the Emilia-Romagna region, which has suffered from severe flooding resulting in 14 fatalities and billions of euros in damages, Meloni expressed her determination to overcome this tragedy and rebuild resiliently from the crisis. She met with those affected by the deluge in the city of Ravenna, describing the experience as deeply moving.

While the full extent of the financial impact is difficult to quantify, the prime minister assured that the necessary resources would be allocated. Italy may consider seeking assistance from the European Union's Solidarity Fund for natural disasters. Meloni also highlighted the support offered by fellow leaders at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan.

The rain had subsided on Sunday, allowing rescue teams and local volunteers to work on draining buildings and clearing streets of mud before it solidifies under the sun. The Italian government has scheduled a cabinet meeting on Tuesday to determine measures for responding to the emergency. Meloni, having witnessed the damage firsthand, will spend Monday reviewing plans to aid the recovery efforts.

Approximately 36,000 people have been displaced from their homes, with many remaining in flooded areas without electricity. By Sunday evening, around 10,000 individuals had been able to return home. The agricultural sector, known for cultivating fruits such as peaches, kiwis, and apricots, as well as corn and grain, has also been severely affected by the floods. Photo by Governo italiano, Wikimedia commons.