Recent flooding and landslides linked to unprecedented rainfall have so far left 14 people dead and caused billions of euros of damage.

“The government is present and so are the other institutions,” Meloni told reporters in Ravenna.

“It is necessary to work day by day,” Meloni, said, adding that “it is difficult to give estimates” of the damage, but that “many resources will have to be mobilised”.

The prime minister also said this is not the time for “catwalks”.

“I am moved,” she continued.

Meloni brought forward her departure from the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, on Saturday to take stock of the damage caused by the extreme weather in the north-eastern region and oversee the relief operations first-hand.

Her arrival came as Emilia Romagna Governor Stefano Bonaccini said the situation “is improving” and that by Monday evening Cesena would be cleared of flood water.

“There is a great collective effort” underway, Bonaccini, of the centre-left Democratic Party (PD), told Rtl 102.5.

“A flood of volunteers from all over Italy and all over the region are helping the hardest hit families to clean up their homes,” he added.

“Now what is needed is speed in decision-making, the simplification of regulations and (bureaucratic) requirements, and a government that cares about what happened, and I am sure that is the case,” Bonaccini said.

Only scattered light rainfall is forecast in the Emilia Romagna region on Monday and no significant increases in river levels are expected. owever, the risk of landslides remains extremely high. (Photo: ANSA)

Meloni praised the work of emergency workers.

“Now our task, following the incredible work of the civil protection department, law enforcement, armed forces, is to guarantee immediate responses,” the prime minister offered, adding that Italy must also try to make the most of the international solidarity shown in recent days.

“I come from the G7 during which many said ‘if you need something we are there’,” Meloni said.

“Let’s try to optimise this availability, too.”

Resources, added the prime minister, “should be used in the best way”.

“I am glad we are talking about the NRRP because it means we also agree” that it needs to be reviewed, Meloni said in relation to suggestions that resources from the massive EU-funded post-Covid national recovery and resilience plan (NRRP) be used for reconstruction.

However, she said “I think at this stage the use of other funds is necessary”.

Meanwhile, Italy’s civil protection department on Sunday confirmed the red alert for the northeastern region on Monday.

The red alert is linked to the emergency situation already present in the area rather than to new extreme weather forecasts.

Only scattered light rainfall is forecast in the region on Monday and no significant increases in river levels are expected.

However, the risk of landslides remains extremely high.

ANSA