Severe Weather Obliterates Hundreds of New Maseratis in Italy

Mother Nature took out her anger on Fiat Chrysler earlier this week, using floodwaters to set hundreds of new vehicles ablaze at the Port of Savona. Italy has been subjected to savage weather this week, putting just about all of Venice underwater and blasting the rest of northern region of with extreme winds and precipitation.

According to local reports from Savona News, it was initially believed a nearby warehouse caught fire after storms caused an electrical short. However, follow-up reports claimed the fires likely broke out in the port after rising sea water caused vehicle batteries to explode.

Either way, the port was engulfed in flames by the time fire crews arrived in the early morning hours of October 29th. Roughly 1,000 vehicles were destroyed, the majority of which were new Maseratis models being shipped to the Middle East. Fortunately, no one was reported injured by the incident, though the storms took lives elsewhere.

“I thanked operators and employees of the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority for the work they are doing in these days of emergency,” said Che regional councilor for economic development, Andrea Benveduti, during a press event.

The port has since been shut down, with cleanup progress being slowed by the overwhelming damage the rest of the region was subjected to. Damage appears to be catastrophic, as the fire converted most vehicles, including what looks to be a number of already unfortunate Fiat 500Ls, into little more than burnt-out shells. It was the second major fire to break out at the port in a week, and it may not be the last — more rain is expected in the coming days.