Heavy rains pounded north and central Italy Wednesday, triggering widespread weather alerts, rescue efforts for dozens trapped in their homes by flood waters in Tuscany, and evacuations in Liguria.
In Carrara, north of Florence, a worker was rescued after he was feared killed when an embankment collapsed after downpours caused the Carrione River to burst its banks and flood parts of the city. Carrara Deputy Mayor Andrea Vannucci closed schools and aqueduct use. A number of families were evacuated from their homes and some had to climb onto their roofs to get above the flood waters, the Civil Protection Department said.
Firefighters rescued five workers who had taken refuge on the roof of the sawmill they were working at, Carrara Mayor Angelo Zubbani told Sky TV.
Tuscany Governor Enrico Rossi said he would declare a state of emergency for the region.
Venice was also hit by acqua alta, or high water that rose as much as 115 cm above sea level, forcing locals were forced to don rubber boots to move through streets as about 15% of the lagoon city was flooded, including iconic St Mark's Square.
Heavy rainfall also forced evacuations in the province of La Spezia, and triggered new fears in Western Liguria, especially in the region around Genoa where one person was killed and millions of euros damage caused in heavy flooding last month.
At least 40 people were evacuated from a Genoa-area building, as rains threatened the stability of its walls.
High winds and rough waters led to cancellation of many connections between Naples and the islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida.
State road SS1 Aurelia was shut down in Ortonovo,and La Spezia as residents were evacuated due to floods.
In Pavia, Lombardia, the Po river rose more than two meters in 24 hours and rains increased levels of the Adda river and Lago Maggiore.
Winds caused a large tree fall on a palazzo in Rome. No injuries were reported.
Distinct climate changes are causing devastation to crops from heavy winds and rains, the Italian Confederation of Farmers reported. Due to a relatively dry October, farmlands and earth were too dry to absorb the large quantities of rainfall causing mud and flooding in Tuscany, Veneto and Liguria.
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