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One dead, one missing after severe flooding hits southern Italy

07 September 2014 03:51 (UTC +04:00)

A 24-year-old farmer was found dead after his car was dragged away by a mix of water and mud near Varano Lake, in the Gargano area.

The man had been last seen on Wednesday, when he had left his house to ensure whether his livestock and farm were in good conditions after a violent storm, authorities said.

Another 70-year-old man of Peschici, near the city of Foggia, went missing and was feared dead. Early news about his body being also recovered by coast guard officers were dismissed by Foggia's prefecture later on Saturday.

Southern Italy has seen heavy rains and flash flood in the last two days especially, with the Gargano area, and Foggia city, being hit particularly hard.

About 1,000 people were evacuated from their homes, campsites and other touristic facilities around Foggia, while some 15 families had to leave the village of San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy's civil protection said.

Rainfalls in the region have been the heaviest in 80 years, and several of the main roads and railroads in Foggia province were disrupted, authorities added.

Rescue operations were still at work on Saturday evening, as crews were trying to reach some isolated areas. Authorities warned residents in the most hit villages not to leave their homes.

Ground vehicles of the fire brigade, the police and the civil protection were at work around the village of Peschici, along with amphibious vehicles and divers of the coast guard.

Helicopters were also involved in the rescue mission but were unable to fly on Saturday afternoon because of bad weather.

A dozen caravans had been swept away by water early in the morning, and two people rescued by the coast guard after their trailer was dragged into the sea.