German Grandmother and Infant Grandson Missing After Flash Flood in Tuscany

A German grandmother and her five-month-old grandson are missing after a flash flood swept through their vacation home near Pisa, Tuscany. The family’s house was submerged when the nearby River Sterza overflowed its banks, leading to the tragedy.

The family, who were on vacation in Italy, noticed floodwaters creeping under their door on Monday night and alerted emergency services. However, language barriers and difficulties locating the family hampered rescue efforts.

According to Francesco Auriemma, mayor of Montecatini Val di Cecina, the infant tragically fell into the floodwaters as the family tried to reach higher floors, and the grandmother was swept away while attempting to save him. The grandmother and child remain missing, while the baby’s parents and grandfather managed to climb to the rooftop, where they were later rescued.

Over 100 firefighters are involved in the ongoing rescue operation, facing harsh conditions due to collapsed roads and heavy mudslides. Firefighter Nicola Cianelli reported that the floodwaters rose "incredibly quickly," with waves as high as 2.5 meters (8 feet) striking the home. Since Monday, the region has experienced severe rainfall, and more extreme weather is expected.

Eugenio Giani, the regional president, noted that Tuscany has seen extraordinary rainfall, with more water falling in six hours than would typically accumulate in a full rainy month. The disaster follows recent flooding in nearby Emilia Romagna, which last week forced the evacuation of nearly 1,000 people, with two still unaccounted for.