“I’m here to send a very clear message – Europe is with you,” von der Leyen told a new conference in Bologna.

She was speaking after flying over the areas hit by the floods and landslides caused by torrential rain with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Emilia Romagna Governor Stefano Bonaccini.

Meloni said her nation appreciated the show of support.

“I think it was important for von der Leyen to see with her own eyes the extent of the problem and the multifaceted problems,” she said.

“The European Union’s support can be very important at this stage.

“We will make the request for the activation of the Solidarity Fund in the coming weeks, having made an overall assessment of the flood damage.

“Unfortunately, Italy has already had to access it on other occasions,” she added, referring to past disasters.

Von der Leyen said that it will be possible for Italy to access cohesion funds for the reconstruction as well.

“It is urgent to get the Solidarity Fund started, although there are very important rules to be respected,” she said.

“There will be a first payment, then an estimate of the damage to have a clearer idea of the contribution from the EU.

Von der Leyen said this will happen in the next three months.

“Then we will see what we can do.

“The main source of EU funding will be the Solidarity Fund.”

Von der Leyen visited several areas hit by the floods, and talked to a range of locals, while Meloni returned to Rome for a cabinet meeting to approve more measures to help the affected areas.

On Tuesday the cabinet approved a package of emergency measures worth €2 billion.

Meanwhile, figures released by the fire department on Thursday show firefighters have intervened on nearly 7500 occasions since the start of the flooding and landslide emergency.

Of the interventions, 1480 have been in the province of Bologna, 3363 in Ravenna, 2249 in Forlì-Cesena, and 391 in Rimini.

There are currently 897 firefighters engaged in rescue operations using 284 vehicles and other equipment including small boats, amphibious vehicles, pumps, earth-moving vehicles, helicopters and drones, the department added.

Meanwhile, Emilia Romagna remained on red alert on Thursday.

ANSA