Heavy rains hit northwest Italy

For more than 48 hours, heavy rains have been battering northwestern Italian regions, causing high alert, local media said Thursday.

President of Piedmont Sergio Chiamparino told media that he will declare state of calamity in its region.

The worst situation is reported near Cuneo, in Piedmont, where river Tanaro overflowed and many roads were closed to traffic.

Liguria region has been also in high alert on Thursday. Others regions on alert are Aosta Valley, Tuscany and Lombardy.

The prefect of Cuneo, Giovanni Russo, asked the citizens not to travel in the province except if necessary and not to stop in areas adjacent to rivers and streams.

In 1994, floods in Piedmont killed dozens of people and displaced families. Endit