Torrential rain and mudslides in Sicily kills three people

Local Italian media reported on its website that emergency workers had found the bodies of a 10-year-old boy, as well of those of a 50-year old man and his 20-year-old son.

Italy’s Civil Protection agency said that the deaths occurred after a number of buildings were submerged in mud, following torrential rain.

Around 100 soldiers were sent to Saponara to help rescue people from flooded houses. Rail services in the area were also hit, with cancellations and severe delays.

Other southern parts of Italy were also affected by heavy rain on Tuesday, with flooding and disruption reported in Calabria.

A slow moving area of low pressure is responsible for bringing heavy, thundery downpours across much of the Mediterranean Sea at the moment. In the past 24 hours 50-70mm (2-3 inches) of rain has fallen across southern parts of Italy and France, as well northern Algeria.

There is still more rain to come during Wednesday with Italy’s meteorological service warning of further heavy, thundery downpours across southern parts of the country.

This follows on from heavy rain and flash floods that hit northern Italy just a few weeks ago, with the city of Genoa badly affected.