Italy battles floods as bad weather batters Europe

BBC News online -- 31 January 2014

Mariko Oi reports on the severe weather that has hit parts of Europe

Areas of Italy and France are on flood alert as heavy rain brings chaos to parts of Europe.

Hundreds of people were forced to evacuate their homes in the Italian city of Pisa as the Arno river threatened to burst its banks on Friday.

High seas are expected to cause widespread flooding along France's Atlantic coast.
Meanwhile, deep snow drifts left dozens of people stranded in Serbia.

Local officials declared a state of emergency and deployed rescue teams to help travellers trapped in their vehicles. Snow storms and strong winds have been sweeping across Eastern Europe.

The Arno river in Pisa threatened to burst its banks

Houses in Landerneau, western France, have been flooded by the Elorn river

Parts of the countryside near Pisa are completely submerged

 

Italian media said a stretch of medieval wall measuring about 30m (95ft) in the town of Volterra, in the province of Pisa, collapsed as a result of heavy rain.

The French department of Finistere, in the west of the country, was placed on red alert as forecasters warned of huge waves and extensive flooding. Ten other French departments were also on alert for rising water levels.

At least two people died and scores had to be airlifted to safety after floods hit south-eastern France earlier this month.

Severe storms have been battering Europe for much of January.