At least 15 people have died and more than 36,000 been forced from their homes due to heavy floods in north-eastern Italy this week.
Violent downpours left almost 20,000 people with no power and many had to throw away their belongings that were destroyed by mud.
Roads in Forlì, one of the cities in the Emilia Romagna region that were hit by flooding, are now lined up with people's possessions including sofas, chairs, TVs, mattresses, bed frames and cupboards that were made unusable.
A local resident told The Mirror that following the deadly floods, which prompted a red alert to be issued in the region, people in the area and others in nearby cities and towns showed their solidarity by helping those who were badly hit.
The source said: "People are doing all they can to help, there is a lot of solidarity. Even during such a dramatic situation, everyone is willing to help.
"Today, volunteers are donating boots and shovels and many are joining efforts to remove mud from people's homes and from the street."
A moving image, published on social media by Italian state police, shows a child being saved from the mud during rescue efforts in Massa Lombarda, a comune in the province of Ravenna.
The police tweeted: "A child now safe, in the arms of a policewoman from the Mobile Department who arrived to assist citizens in Emilia Romagna.
"An image that gives us hope, with the wish that we can soon return to living our days with serenity."
The child was taken to his grandparents' home by the police, Superintendent Silvia Giannini explained.
She told the local newspaper Il Resto del Carlino: "I held the baby, he was very small, he couldn't speak yet.
"He was sitting on his mother's lap. She brought him to me and I instinctively embraced him.
"Then we got into the car and headed towards the house of some relatives where they will stay while waiting for the situation to get back to normal."
Looking back at rescue efforts in the area, Ms Giannini added: "I wish I could have done more. I was struck by the sadness in the eyes of those people who know they have lost everything and have been forced to abandon a part of their life just to save themselves."
One of the victims of the tragedy was 60-year-old Palma Maraldi, whose body was dragged 15km from the village Ronta, in the municipality of Cesena, to the beach in Cesenatico on the Adriatic coast.
Her 69-year-old husband Sauro Manuzzi was also found dead after the couple's daughter, who was unable to contact her parents, reported them as missing.
An elderly man drowned in his own home while trying to save some of his family's belongings while his desperate wife called for help from their balcony.
Yesterday, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni said she was leaving the G7 summit in Japan early to deal with the emergency.
Thanking rescue workers and volunteers who rushed to help flood victims, she said: "Frankly I cannot remain so far from Italy in such a complex moment."
The mayor of Bologna, Matteo Lepore, said it would take "months, and in some places maybe years" for roads and infrastructure to be repaired.
The Emilia Romagna region has activated a toll-free number - 800024664 - that people can get in touch with should they wish to join in efforts to clear roads and homes.
In the Forlì-Cesena area, which was among the worst affected by the floods, people can visit www.volontarisos.it to sign up as volunteers.
Around the city, there are also many places where anyone can donate clothes, personal hygiene products and food for those who were evacuated from their homes.
Those in Ravenna can send an email to vogliodareunamano@comune.ra.it if they want to volunteer in the area.
