Italy is hit with landslides as flash floods trigger evacuation
Italy has been inundated by landslides caused by flashfloods that have destroyed bridges, washed away cars and triggered an evacuation.
Following powerful summer thunderstorms on Wednesday and Thursday, the picturesque Passiria Valley in northern Italy was flooded after over 100mm of rain fell in just a few hours.
Video footage taken of the floods in the region showed muddied water raging across the land.
Roads were submerged in water and mud, trapping cars that tried to ford the flow of rain.
One set of photos showed what appeared to be a building site of new homes in the valley having many of their structural materials rushed away by the flash floods.
The ground upon which a six-storey building, half-built and still exposed to the elements, was soaked through with water. Rusted metal parts were seen on its roof.
Though the damage in the area was extensive, no one was injured or killed by the extreme weather.
The regional government said the largest landslide happened in 'an industrial area, where several warehouses, machinery, and work tools were buried, and clearing work is proceeding at full speed.'
The ground upon which a six-storey building, half-built and still exposed to the elements, was soaked through with water
Rusted metal parts were seen on its roof
One set of photos showed what appeared to be a building site of new homes in the valley having many of their structural materials rushed away by the flash floods.
One road, shut down due to the weather, remains closed until further notice while a one-way system for cars across the valley has been in place since 5am.
Local firefighters deployed ten vehicles, including five bucket excavators and three wheel loaders, to remove six to seven meters of material and clear the blocked passageway so the water could flow in a controlled manner.
As Italy is deluged by flashfloods, shocking footage shows the aftermath of deadly wildfires in Cyprus with rows of luxury villas reduced to ashes.
Terrified residents were forced to flee in the night as raging flames - fanned by powerful winds and a 40C heatwave - engulfed entire streets to the north of Limassol, a coastal city loved by Brits.
One elderly couple were tragically burnt alive as they attempted to flee in their car while rescue teams are frantically searching for missing people and carrying out mass evacuations.
The blaze, which hasn't stopped burning since it broke out at midday on Wednesday, has devastated swathes of agricultural and habitable land across the wine–producing region north of the city of Limassol, which sits near popular holiday hotspots.
Rows of luxury homes in the Souni region of the island were seen burnt to a crisp. Several trees on the front of properties were seen charred and mangled by the flames.
Telegraph poles could be seen askew in the ground, warped by the fires.
Flash flooding in Italy following a summer storm has prompted landslides
Heavy vehicles clean up the damage after serious flooding in Italy
Roads have been closed until further notice as teams respond to the landslides
Cars pictured negotiating the slick roads after a heavy storm caused flash flooding
Water rushed through the streets sweeping up machinery and vehicles
Water could be soon flowing through the Passiria Valley after over 100mm of rain fell in just a few hours.
The inferno is believed to have begun from two points around 300ft apart in an area underneath a bridge where there is a rubbish dump.
Local cops are reportedly investigating the cause of the blaze as arson.
It has since emerged that two people have died after they were burned alive in their car.
Local media has reported that the pair were an elderly couple who were trying to flee the fires, though they have not been formally identified yet.
