In the face of the powerful force of nature, massive airplanes become mere “toys”. A severe windstorm recently swept through northern Italy, creating a dramatic scene where airplanes were overturned like kites on the runway, causing the airport to come to a standstill.
The storm brought heavy rain, lightning, and fierce gusts of wind, leading to disasters in multiple areas in northern Italy. The Forlì Airport “Luigi Ridolfi” in the Emilia-Romagna region was hit by strong winds of up to 120 kilometers per hour, causing four light aircraft on the runway and apron to be pushed, tossed, and even overturned by the raging wind, prompting the airport to announce an emergency shutdown.
Surveillance footage from the scene showed that when the strong gusts blew through, the light aircraft parked on the apron were violently tossed by the wind. One aircraft was blown off its designated course during landing, while the other three aircraft that were stationary experienced severe shaking, with their wheels even leaving the ground, causing the entire fuselage to flip upside down on the runway.
According to reports from the Italian news agency ANSA, the strong wind also tore apart part of the airport hangar’s walls and caused damage to the roof of the terminal building. To ensure safety, Forlì Airport was closed for about an hour, and firefighters and emergency personnel were called in to inspect for fuel leaks, clean up debris, and secure other damaged aircraft. Fortunately, the incident did not result in any casualties.
The severe weather also caused significant disasters locally. The meteorological department indicated that this cyclone brought about intense thunderstorms and strong gusts of wind in a short period of time, with the Liguria region even issuing a red thunderstorm alert.
In the town of Chiavari, sudden flooding turned roads into rivers, with several cars floating like small boats in the water; in Bergamo, a riverside campsite had to be evacuated due to the risk of landslides and mudslides, leading to the emergency evacuation of around 250 people.
At present, the fire department has received hundreds of distress calls in northern Italy and is working tirelessly to clear fallen trees, reopen roads, and restore power. Meteorologists warn that this extreme windstorm is still spreading across some parts of Europe, affecting areas in Poland and popular tourist destinations such as Mallorca and Valencia in Spain. People are advised to remain vigilant.