Italy Flooding Devastates Streets

Heavy flooding destroys streets

Heavy rain swept away cars and flooded shops and schools in and around the northern Italian city of Varese on Thursday, residents and local officials said.

The town of Mandole was particularly hard hit, with residents reporting floodwaters up to 2 meters (6 feet) deep in some areas. The flooding washed away several cars and damaged numerous homes and businesses.

"We lost everything in 6 minutes," said a resident of Mandole, whose house was flooded. "The water came in so fast that we didn't have time to save anything."

First responders arrive

Firefighters and other emergency responders were on the scene in Varese and Mandole, helping residents evacuate homes and businesses. Authorities were urging people to stay away from flooded areas.

The flooding was caused by heavy rain that fell in the area overnight and into Thursday morning. The rain caused rivers and streams to overflow their banks, sending floodwaters into the streets of Varese and Mandole.