Severe storms caused widespread flooding across parts of Italy on Thursday, leaving one woman dead after her car became trapped in a flooded underpass in the northeastern Friuli Venezia Giulia region, Italian broadcaster Rai News reported.
The 83-year-old woman drowned in Latisana, in the province of Udine, after water flooded the underpass and trapped her car.
Flooding was reported across several northern and central regions, with roads and underpasses submerged, rivers and streams overflowing, and emergency crews carrying out rescues and evacuations.
In Tuscany, more than 63,000 lightning strikes were recorded over 12 hours, while 115 millimetres of rain fell in the Grosseto area.
More than 200 operations were carried out by the regional Civil Protection system and firefighters, including rescues from flooded underpasses.
In Lombardy, 45 people were evacuated after a major landslide in Val Masino, in the province of Sondrio, while flooding also affected parts of the Spedali Civili hospital in Brescia.
Water entered the hospital's cardiac intensive care unit, prompting the precautionary relocation of two patients.
Minor flooding was also reported in other areas before the situation was brought under control.
In Milan, the Lambro River overflowed its banks overnight, temporarily flooding streets in the city.
Several cars were also trapped in an underpass in nearby Vimodrone, with firefighters responding to assist those inside.
Flooding and heavy rain also disrupted rail services in Friuli Venezia Giulia, where underpasses in Latisana, San Giorgio di Nogaro and Torviscosa were submerged.
Delays of up to an hour were reported, while replacement buses were deployed on some routes.
In Liguria, the Lavagna River overflowed in several places in Calvari, near Genoa, while flooding and fallen trees were reported in parts of Tuscany, Marche and Piedmont.
An orange weather alert is in effect in four regions, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany and Marche, as an Atlantic low-pressure system brings further heavy rain and thunderstorms across central and northern Italy.
Authorities have warned of further flooding, landslides and rapid rises in smaller waterways in areas affected by the rainfall.
