UPDATE - Heavy rains and floods hit central Italy, killing 10

Civil protection said more than 400 mm of rain fell in a few hours, 4 people still missing, including 2 children

UPDATES DEATH TOLL, OTHER DETAILS; UPDATES HEADLINE, DECK

By Giada Zampano

ROME (AA) - Ten people died as heavy rains and floods hit Italy’s central region of Marche late Thursday, while four others were still missing, including two children, said Italian media and civil protection officials.

Hundreds of people were displaced in the region after being forced to leave their houses due to flood damage.

Civil protection chief Luigi d'Angelo described the flooding as "an extremely intense event," local media reported.

Stefano Stefoni, regional civil protection director, told Italian news agency ANSA that about “420 millimeters (16.5 inches) of rain fell in two or three hours, half of what it rains in a year in the region."

Streets in many small villages in the Ancona and Pesaro-Urbino provinces turned into rivers as torrents of muddy water swept away cars and reached the first floors of houses.

Rescue services were still searching for survivors, as four people were still missing, authorities said.

The heavy rains are part of a wave of violent storms that are hitting regions across Italy.

Kaynak: