Italian storms wipe out two families in Sicily as death toll rises
A fireman walks on a mud covered path in the aftermath of a flood in Casteldaccia, near Palermo, Italy, November 4, 2018. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
MILAN (Reuters) - Two families were killed in the same house in Sicily when the torrential rains and high winds lashing Italy caused a river to burst its banks, drowning the nine people inside.
Rushing water filled the villa in Casteldaccia in the province of Palermo in moments, wiping out the families who were spending Saturday night there.
A father and his daughter escaped harm because they had left the house to do some shopping while a third person climbed a tree to survive.
A damaged car is seen in the aftermath of the flooding of Milicia river in Casteldaccia, near Palermo, Italy, November 4, 2018. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
The tragedy brings the number of people killed in Sicily this weekend to at least 12 after three other people died in their cars when hit by torrents of water.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte spoke of "an immense tragedy" during a visit on Sunday to affected areas in Sicily.
He said a cabinet meeting would be convened this week to declare a state of emergency and come up with the first package of aid for areas affected.
Damaged cars are seen in the aftermath of the flooding of Milicia river in Casteldaccia, near Palermo, Italy, November 4, 2018. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
Heavy rains and gale-force winds have battered Italy for several days, uprooting millions of trees and cutting off villages and roads.
Italy's Civil Protection Agency said deaths caused by the wave of bad weather stood at 17, excluding the fatalities in Sicily.
Some of the worst damage has been recorded in the northern regions of Trentino and Veneto.
A general view shows a partially submerged house, where according to local media nine people died in, due to the flood-affected river Milicia, in Casteldaccia, near Palermo, Italy, November 4, 2018. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
On Saturday the governor of Veneto, Luca Zaia, said storm damage in the region amounted to at least a billion euros.
During a visit on Sunday to badly-hit areas in the north, Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said 250 million euros ($285 million) had already been earmarked for relief.
He said the government would be asking to use special EU funds.
The interior of a house is seen after the flooding of the river Milicia in Casteldaccia, near Palermo, Italy, November 4, 2018. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
Salvini, who is also deputy prime minister, said a rough estimate of how much it would cost to safeguard Italy against such events was 40 billion euros.
General view of the house where people died after the river Milicia flooded in Casteldaccia near Palermo, Italy, November 4, 2018. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
(Reporting by Stephen Jewkes; Editing by Catherine Evans and Adrian Croft)
Damaged cars are seen after the river Milicia flooded in Casteldaccia near Palermo, Italy, November 4, 2018. REUTERS/Guglielmo MangiapaneGeneral view of the a house after the river Milicia flooded in Casteldaccia near Palermo, Italy, November 4, 2018. REUTERS/Guglielmo MangiapaneGeneral view of the house where people died after the river Milicia flooded in Casteldaccia near Palermo, Italy, November 4, 2018. REUTERS/Guglielmo MangiapaneThe interior of a house is seen after the flooding of the river Milicia in Casteldaccia, near Palermo, Italy, November 4, 2018. REUTERS/Guglielmo MangiapaneA carabinieri takes a picture of a flood-affected area in the aftermath of the swelling of the Milicia river in Casteldaccia, near Palermo, Italy, November 4, 2018. REUTERS/Guglielmo MangiapaneDamaged cars are seen in the aftermath of the flooding of Milicia river in Casteldaccia, near Palermo, Italy, November 4, 2018. REUTERS/Guglielmo MangiapaneA fireman walks on a mud covered path in the aftermath of a flood in Casteldaccia, near Palermo, Italy, November 4, 2018. REUTERS/Guglielmo MangiapaneThe interior of a house is seen after the flooding of the river Milicia in Casteldaccia, near Palermo, Italy, November 4, 2018. REUTERS/Guglielmo MangiapaneA damaged car is seen in the aftermath of the flooding of the Milicia river in Casteldaccia, near Palermo, Italy, November 4, 2018. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
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