At least eight people were killed and 12,000 were forced to abandon their homes when severe rain created flash floods in and around Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region two days ago.
The region’s president said on Wednesday (17 May) that he feared the death toll would grow as reports of missing people poured in amid rescue attempts aimed at evacuating inhabitants trapped on high levels of buildings or isolated on rooftops.
According to local media estimates, the region received more than 50 cm of rain in 48 hours – over half of its average annual total.
