Schools Shut, Monuments Closed as Rome Fears Exceptional Rains

The Colosseum

Rome’s landmark monuments, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum – were closed on Thursday, along with all schools, as authorities were expecting major disruptions from “exceptional rainstorms.’’

Report says weather-related disasters such as floodings and landslides are frequent in Italy.

Experts said widespread breaches of building regulations and land planning rules, as well as scarce investment in nature conservation, were partly to blame.

Following early morning rains, four metro stations were closed and several roads were already under water in the Italian capital.

Authorities were expecting weather conditions to worsen significantly by afternoon.

Rome Mayor, Ignazio Marino said “I will like to urge all people who do not have pressing needs to limit the use of their cars.

“It is clear that disruptions or even accidents could happen.’’

A government official who ordered the closure of schools, Prefect Giuseppe Pecoraro, spoke on Wednesday about the situation that should prove exceptional, at least according to forecasts that have no precedent.

Elsewhere in Italy, moderately high tides were flooding parts of Venice, a road was blocked by a landslide in Liguria, in the north-west, and the Italy-Austria Brenner Pass was heavily congested because of snowfall.

Authorities said that in Carrara, where 450 people had to be evacuated on Wednesday after a river broke its banks, the situation was gradually getting back to normal.