Powerful storms hit southern Italy today for the third day in a row, completely flooding parts of the island of Sicily.
Dramatic footage came from the city of Catania where water rushed through flooded streets.
Meteorologists say that eastern Sicily is being hit by a rare Mediterranean storm that is now being known as a "Medi-Hurricane".
Italy's civil defense has issued severe weather warnings for the region of Sicily and neighboring Calabria.
The agency warned of danger to life and property from heavy rains, storms and strong winds.
The mayor of Catania, Salvo Pogliese, said that eastern Sicily was expecting severe and intense weather events.
"I urge the entire population not to leave their homes except in cases of emergency, as the streets are flooded with water," he wrote on social networks.
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Local media reported that a 53-year-old man was found dead under a car after flooding in the town of Gravina, north of Catania.
Today's death follows that of a 67-year-old man found dead on Monday. Rescue teams are still searching for a 54-year-old woman who was swept away by the raging waters with her husband, who managed to escape in the town of Scordia, also near Catania.
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The rains have damaged historic parts of Catania, turning Via Etnea into a lake of water.
Power outages have been reported in the region and schools have been closed in the city, as well as in neighboring towns.
The daily La Repubblica said the floods had forced the evacuation of several buildings of the Garibaldi hospital in Catania. /tch/
