The incident occurred on Tuesday evening, when local firefighters were helping around fifty stranded cars. Their company car was swept away by an unexpected wave, one firefighter managed to escape, the other, Ciccorelli, unfortunately did not. His body was later discovered by divers.
The news of his death deeply shook the community that rallied around his family. The mayor of San Severo, Lidya Colangelová, expressed her condolences to the family on behalf of the city and ordered the flags to be flown at half-mast as a sign of mourning, writes La Stampa.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic death of a fire chief whose car was swept away by water from a flooded stream while he and his team were assisting the population in the Foggia area after a wave of severe weather hit the area. I wish a speedy recovery to my colleague who was riding in the car and who was injured and hospitalized,” Italian Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi said on the X network.
Ciccorelli worked as a fire chief in the city of Foggia. According to the diary, he was very respected and popular. Colleagues remember him as a brave firefighter, always ready to help others. His fellow citizens highlight his great humanity and professionalism.
Italy, as well as Central Europe, was plagued by heavy rains, many rivers already overflowed their banks and water flooded several villages. In the Emilia-Romagna region in the north of the country, a yellow warning has been in effect since Friday: the second highest flood warning level. A grade lower applies in 11 out of 20 Italian regions.
