Catania under water.
The second largest city in Sicily has been hit by impressive floods that have left at least two people dead, according to La Repubblica.
One of the victims is a 53-year-old man who drowned in Gravina di Catania, a suburb of the city, the Italian newspaper said.
The images published by several Italian media show the historic center of the city devastated by bad weather.
The floods caused a blackout in the center and flooded the shops.
Residents are invited not to leave their homes.
“Since yesterday, our city has known a dramatic situation linked to the weather conditions that afflict the entire eastern part of Sicily,” wrote the mayor of Catania Salvo Pogliese, who spoke of an unprecedented disaster.
In this context, the elected official ordered the "immediate closure" of all commercial activities "with the exception of pharmacies, food and basic necessities".
Some structures like the Garibaldi Hospital in Catania were invaded by mud and water, forcing staff to evacuate the premises.
Mentre nell'Ospedale Garibaldi di Catania ... pic.twitter.com/b6eZeG0Sa2
- walter fichera (@j_gufo) October 26, 2021
A man who died on Sunday
Until then, firefighters have carried out more than a hundred rescue operations, most of them to help people trapped in houses or their cars.
The floods also caused landslides, especially in the province of Messina where rivers rose from their beds, affecting circulation.
In Calabria and Sicily right now.
Citizens are invited not to leave their homes.
It's the flood pic.twitter.com/KabPLZnPKe
- TaQuIn MaUvE (@TaQuIn_MaUvE) October 26, 2021
These devastating weather conditions have affected Sicily for three days already.
Already Sunday, a couple in their sixties had been swept away by the waves, only the man's body had been found.
The balance sheet could, however, increase in the coming hours.
The storm is expected to peak between Thursday and Friday, according to the ministry.