Massive storm in Europe drops record-breaking rain and continues deadly trek across Italy
A storm battering Europe made its way through central Italy on Thursday, killing at least five people — bringing the death toll from the storm across the continent to at least 12 — and dumping record-breaking rainfall.
Storm Ciarán dumped nearly 8 inches of rain in a three-hour period from Livorno to the Mugello valley just east of Florence, Italy's Civil Protection Department said.
Rivers overflowed, trapping residents in their homes, inundating hospitals and overturning cars.
Authorities warned the storm is moving toward southern Italy, placing other countries in western Europe such as Austria on high alert. The storm killed at least seven people as it moved through Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany on Thursday, bringing winds over 100 mph.
About half a million people in France are in the dark after the storm brought power outages Thursday into the millions, French power company Enedis said in a Friday update.
The Austria Press Agency reported the storm moved through southern Austria, near its border with Slovenia and Italy, and dropped heavy rain and winds, leading to landslides and power outages.
At least 5 dead, 2 missing in Italy
Tuscany's Gov. Eugenio Giani told Italian news channel Sky TG24 the storm created a "wave of water bombs without precedence."
Climate scientists blamed climate change for the storm's intensity. Italy's minister for civil protection, Nello Musumeci, told the same news channel the country has seen weather more tropical in nature compared to the past 20 years.
The intense storm killed two people in Prato, just north of Florence, Italian news agency ANSA said. The other victims included a couple near the town of Vinci and a person in Livorno province.
A Tuscany person is missing as of Friday, the Associated Press reported. So was an off-duty firefighter from Veneto.
Ciarán leaves behind destruction in Italy
The overnight storm flooded at least four hospitals in the country and disrupted train lines and highways in Tuscany.
About 150 people are stranded in Prato after authorities suspended a train line Thursday night.
Prato Mayor Matteo Biffoni posted on social media the storm was a "blow to the stomach."
Just south in Florence, Mayor Dario Nardella told Sky TG24 the Arno River had high water levels forecast for midday. He nor the governor expected the river to overrun the banks as it flows through the center of the city.
“The psychological fear is high, considering that tomorrow is the anniversary of the 1966 flood,” Nardella said.
That flood killed at least 35 people and left Florence with more than 600 tons of mud, the country's civil protection department said.
Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY; Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Storm in Europe kills at least 5 in Italy, dumps record-breaking rain
