The city of Rome has asked the region of Lazio to recognize a state of natural disaster following torrential rain on 28 October when 71 mm fell in just two hours between 19.00 and 21.00. A small army of 1.600 emergency response personnel responded to over 900 reports of power outages, felled trees and flooded buildings. Damage was concentrated in the lower lying areas of the city such as the historic centre, Testaccio and Ostiense and eastern neighbourhoods bordering the River Aniene.

Heavy rains continued on 29 October, forcing the suspension of the football match between AS Roma and Sampdoria scheduled for 20.00, which has been rescheduled for the end of the season.

This is the second time this year that Lazio has been asked to declare a state of emergency following freak weather conditions. The first was for towns in east and south Lazio after heavy rains at the end of May. The provision serves to finance clean-up operations and repairs to city infrastructure damaged by natural calamities.