Death toll climbs to 11 as freak weather hits northern Italy

The death toll from the latest wave of storms and bad weather to batter northern Italy has climbed to 11 after floods and landslides wreaked havoc across the region, causing millions in damages, and severe flooding.

Damages so far from flooding and landslides have caused the death of at least 11 people, while others are still unaccounted for. Emergency officials have warned of a “critical situation” in the North East, while damages have been estimated at more than €100 million.

Residents have been warned to stay indoors while widespread flooding and landslides have been reported. Italy Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said the recent tragedies highlight the need for a major overhaul of the country’s land use policies after some of the fatalities have been blamed on poor infrastructure and illegal development.

In Varese, a landslide triggered by torrential rain engulfed a house on the shores of Italy’s Lake Maggiore, killing a 70-year-old pensioner and his 16-year-old granddaughter.

The man died after the house was buried in mud after the hill behind the building gave way as a result of torrential rain that has besieged swaths of northern Italy in the last two weeks.

Rescue workers managed to drag the 16-year-old from under the rubble after more than four hours of digging but she later died in hospital as a result of her injuries.

The tragedy brings the death toll as a result of the freak weather conditions up to 11. The toll is expected to increase as rescue workers continue to search for a missing man whose car was swept off the road by torrential rain in Genoa. 

On Saturday, a 21-year-old woman drowned after her car skidded into a flooded river.

Lombardy remains one of the most hard-hit regions after another wave of bad weather hit the North East. In Milan, excessive rain caused the banks of the Seveso and Lambro rivers to burst. Emergency officials fear that the Po river, the biggest area, cold follow suit.

The bad weather also threatened to cancel the Italy - Croatia due to be played at Milan's San Siro stadium on Sunday.

In Piemonte, emergency officials say the situation has become increasing critical, while in Imperia, many streams have overflowed, flooding entire neighbourhoods in the process.