3 Dead, 5 missing as storms hit north Italy

Three people died and five were missing after heavy rain hit Italy's northwestern region of Liguria, local authorities in Spezia announced early Wednesday quoted by ANSA news agency. The deaths were reported in the small town of Borghetto Varo along with one missing person. Two others were reported missing from Vernazza and two from Pignone. As further rain hampered rescue work, the local authorities asked residents not to go out or to use private cars. As the bad weather was expected to spread to the rest of Italy on Wednesday, Rome's Mayor Gianni Alemanno placed firemen and rescue services on alert. Five days ago the capital was paralysed by a violent storm that flooded the city, halting public transport and forcing many Romans to stay indoors.