More than 500 of the people evacuated from their homes were in the province of Ravenna, while another 200 were in the province of Bologna, with the rest being moved in other parts of Emilia-Romagna, the regional government said.
The River Savio broke its banks in central Cesena and overflowed in the area of Via Cesare Battisti.
The city council warned citizens to move away from the river banks and to abandon ground floors and basements.
Cesena Mayor Enzo Lattuca said on Tuesday that “we must resist in these difficult hours”.
“There are also people who have climbed onto roofs near Savio, they are being rescued by helicopter.
“Allow us to focus on this emergency. Then we will ask for damages”, Lattuca said, as he took stock of the latest bout of bad weather and the river flooding, also in the city centre.
“Let’s help each other, let’s resist, let’s maintain lucidity for these hours that will be difficult.
“The situation on the ground is heavy, there are areas without light.
“There is heavy damage to property, but we will worry about that from tomorrow, right now we are all focusing on people,” he added.
“The most important thing is to protect people’s lives.”
Approximately 900 civil protection volunteers are helping with the emergency effort, including many drafted in from neighbouring regions.
Rail operator RFI said that services on the Bologna-Rimini, Forlì-Rimini, Ferrara-Rimini and Ravenna-Rimini line had to be suspended because of the extreme weather.
ANSA
