The Response of the River Embankment Systems of the Emilia-Romagna Basins to May 2023 Extensive Floods

In May 2023, two extreme weather events struck Emilia-Romagna, followed by two more in late 2024, indicating an increasing frequency likely linked to climate change. This study examines embankment breaches from the May 2023 floods to develop interpretative models offailure mechanisms based on field data and eyewitness accounts. The observed failures primarily resulted from external and internal erosion, as well as overall instability. The dataset was compiled to assess the vulnerabilities of the river embankment system and to guide intervention prioritization. The findings emphasize the need for an integrated approach that combines hydraulic and geotechnical analyses to improve embankment safety management.