Father-free Adrian Boschetto has been in his partner’s hometown of Faenza, about five miles southwest of Bologna in northern Italy, for some time now.
In the past week, the region has been hit by heavy flooding, which has led to at least 13 people losing their lives. Adrian and his family found themselves in the middle of the chaos.
– It is one of the worst affected cities in the entire region, he says of Faenza.
“Went to fanders”
When the rain increased, the dams burst and the water from the river overflowed “everywhere”.
– It went straight to the fanders. The water was leaking in and filling our apartment building. In a few hours we had 3.5 meters above street level, he says.
Adrian, his partner, their one-year-old son and the family dog were forced to flee the building. They were helped by a man who paddled past the residence in a rubber canoe.
– We had to tie a ladder with climbing rope from the balcony and called out to a private person in a canoe who came by by pure chance, he wanted to help people, says Adrian.
Afterwards, they went to the partner’s parents, who have an apartment in the elevated city center that was not as affected by the disaster.
– The shock doesn’t settle, because you pass people every day who have lost everything, says Adrian.
“Take several years”
It is still unclear when they can move back into their home because it lacks electricity. He says the apartment was a meter away from being submerged in water.
– We are waiting for information about when the electricity will start and whether it will be habitable, he says.
The worst of the flooding appears to be over in and around Faenza, according to Adrian. But the massive work of restoring the city remains.
– It will take months to just remove the mud, the sediment, that comes with the river because it has covered everything, and it weighs lead and it destroys everything, he says.
In addition, all affected house structures must be reviewed.
– That work will take several years.
Hear Swedish Adrian Boschetto about the disaster in Italy in the video player above.