Italy: State of Emergency Due to Flash Floods and Mudslides (NEWS BRIEF)

(PHOTO: DW-WORLD.DE)(HN, October 28, 2011) Seven people have been reported dead an others are still missing after heavy rains caused severe flooding in northern Italy, officials said Friday.

Flash floods and mudslides triggered by heavy rains earlier this week barreled through picturesque towns along the northwest coast, burying streets under mud, damaging homes, stores, churches and overturning vehicles.

Among hard-hit towns are Monterosso and Vernazza, along the Cinque Terre region on Italy's northwest coast.

The Italian Council of Ministers declared a state of emergency in the flood region, which means 65 million euros ($91 million) will be put aside to deal with the disaster, the Corriere della Sera newspaper reported.

Heavy rains continued to fall Thursday night in Milan and other spots across the southern European nation, according to the Servizio Meteorologico, Italy's official weather agency. The agency gave an alert about intense, widespread rainfall in the regions of Calabria and Basilicata in southern Italy, as well as the eastern part of Sicily.

--- HUMNews Staff