Cremona, Italy, 30 August (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A violent Cremona storm has left widespread destruction across the northern Italian city, damaging its historic cathedral, thousands of vehicles and public infrastructure. Forty-three people were treated at Cremona hospital, with no serious injuries reported.
The severe weather struck on Friday, 28 August, bringing intense rain, hail and winds reportedly reaching around 90km/h. Cremona City Council said as much as 80% of the city’s average August rainfall fell in less than half an hour.
Around 10,000 vehicles were reported damaged, while fallen trees, damaged roofs and flooding created further disruption. Parks and other public areas were closed as firefighters and council teams inspected potentially unsafe structures.
Why did the storm cause such severe damage?
The Cremona storm combined intense rainfall, strong winds and damaging hail over a short period, leaving little time for the city to respond. The southern part of Cremona was among the worst-hit areas.
Cremona Cathedral suffered significant damage, including the collapse of the covering of a turret on its northern counter-façade and damage to its rose window. At least ten churches were also reported damaged.
The civic tower at Palazzo Comunale was affected, prompting safety inspections. Authorities closed parks, the cemetery and several municipal buildings while emergency teams assessed risks from unstable trees and structures.
Italian President Sergio Mattarella contacted Cremona mayor Andrea Virgilio following the disaster. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also expressed solidarity as national authorities followed the situation.
The city council said: “It is not yet possible to estimate the damage caused by the cloudburst.”
What will residents and businesses face next?
Residents, businesses and local authorities now face a potentially lengthy clean-up and damage assessment. Thousands of vehicle owners will need to document hail damage, while affected buildings must be checked before repairs can proceed.
The municipality has advised residents to photograph and record damage. A technical task force is expected to begin work on Monday, 31 August, while officials continue gathering information on losses to private property and public infrastructure.
For Cremona’s historic buildings, specialist assessments will also be required to determine the extent of repairs. The immediate priority remains securing unsafe areas, clearing fallen trees and restoring normal access across the city.
The full financial impact of the Cremona storm remains unknown and will become clearer as municipal inspections and individual damage reports are completed.
