Storm severs link between Molise and Abruzzo. No injuries reported.
A bridge spanning the river Trigno on the Adriatic State Road collapsed in the Molise region of central Italy, severing a key road link between the neighbouring regions of Molise and Abruzzo.
The structure, part of the Statale 16 road, gave way at around 09.00 on Thursday morning, after three days of intense rainfall.
The collapse occurred suddenly while checks were under way to assess whether the road could be reopened to traffic. The bridge caved in at its midpoint.
The bridge, in the municipality of Montenero di Bisaccia, had already been under monitoring the previous day, when the road was closed following the swelling of the river.
The mayor of Montenero di Bisaccia, Simona Contucci, confirmed that the road had been shut and no vehicles were on it at the time.
“Fortunately the road was closed and there were no vehicles passing through, otherwise it would have been a tragedy,” she said.
Storms
The collapse forms part of a wider weather emergency striking both Molise and Abruzzo.
In Molise, severe flooding has forced around 150 people to evacuate their homes in Termoli, on the Adriatic coast, with the worst-affected areas being Rio Vivo and Marinelle.
Further evacuations have taken place in Campomarino Lido and in the outlying districts of Guglionesi. Many of those displaced spent the night in emergency accommodation set up at local sports facilities.
Rail services on the Adriatic line have also been disrupted, with the section between Fossacesia and Porto di Vasto remaining suspended since the previous afternoon due to flooding caused by the overflowing of the river Osento.
#Maltempo al Centro-Sud, oltre 800 interventi in Abruzzo, Molise e Puglia: 627 #vigilidelfuoco in campo con rinforzi da Lazio, Campania, Marche, Toscana ed Emilia Romagna. Nella clip operazioni notturne col gatto delle nevi a Pescopennataro [#2aprile 10:00]… pic.twitter.com/jz6B5M18zE
— Vigili del Fuoco (@vigilidelfuoco) April 2, 2026
Replacement bus services have been put in place between Abruzzo and Puglia. In Pescara, around 800 people were stranded at the city’s railway station before buses were laid on.
The emergency services response has been significantly reinforced, with fire fighter teams operating with amphibious vehicles, rafting dinghies and specialist flood-rescue equipment.
Meteorologist Gianfranco Spensieri described the snowfall in inland Molise as among the most intense in eight years, with accumulations exceeding one and a half metres at Capracotta, at an altitude of 1,400 metres.
Conditions are expected to improve gradually through Thursday afternoon, with stable weather forecast for the Easter weekend.
Photo Corriere della Sera
