Heavy rainfall in northern Italy has killed at least six people and forced 5,000 to be evacuated. Helicopters had to rescue people from the roofs of their flooded homes.
Roads were closed and the Imola Formula 1 race was cancelled. 50,000 people are without electricity, more than 100,000 without a telephone connection. Some areas would have received half of the average annual rainfall in just 36 hours. Two weeks ago, there was a months-long drought here. As a result the ground was so dry that the rain could not seep away.