Central Italy struck by floods, more than 500 homeless

ROME (Chinaview) -- Continued heavy rainfall worsened the situation in central Italy after a flood hit the area, leaving more than 500 people homeless, local media reported.

In the last six days, Italy has been struck by heavy rains and a sharp fall in temperature. There have been no victims so far but infrastructure in many areas is completely cut off.

The most damaged regions are Tuscany and Liguria, where road and railway connections have been interrupted by mudslides and water.

Several flooded areas are still without gas and electricity.

In the northern Emilia Romagna region, almost 550 mm of rain have fallen in the past several days, accounting for 40 percent of average annual precipitation.

Infrastructure Minister Altero Matteoli on Saturday pledged to file an application for national state of emergency at the next cabinet meeting.

Hundreds of firemen, civil defense workers and volunteers were trying to limit the impact of the flooding near the Tuscan towns of Lucca and Pisa, clearing debris and mud on the roads.

The northern city of Venice was also hit by the heavy rains, registering a dangerous rise in sea levels.

In October, the southern Sicilian town of Messina was struck by mudslides, which killed 35 people.

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