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WORLD NEWS Monday 5 noveMber 2018

Storms, floods in Sicily kill at least 12 people; 2 missing

By FRANCES D'EMILIO Only days earlier, other
Associated Press storms battered much of
ROME (AP) — Storm-related northern Italy, killing at least
floods killed at least 12 peo- 15 people, uprooting mil-
ple in Sicily, Italian authori- lions of trees near Alpine
ties said Sunday, including valleys and leaving sev-
nine members of two fami- eral Italian villages without
lies who were spending a electricity or road access
long weekend together for days.
when water and mud from Conte said a special Cabi-
a swollen river overran their net meeting could be in
rented villa. the coming days to deliber-
After surveying the stricken ate aid for storm-ravaged
Mediterranean island by communities, as well as
helicopter, Italian Premier to approve 1 billion euros
Giuseppe Conte identified ($1.15 billion) to ensure safe
two more of the victims as hydrogeological conditions
a German couple whose in Italy, including proper
car was swept away by cleaning of riverbeds.
flood waters near Agrigen- A view of the area where nine people lost their lives when their home was flooded in Casteldac- The other known casualty
to, a tourist town known for cia, near Palermo, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018. in Sicily was a man whose
its ancient Greek temples. Associated Press body was also found on a
Italian news reports said guardrail along a Palermo-
a 1-year--old, a 3-year- The two families had gath- had blocked the demoli- A nursing home up the area road after floodwa-
old and a teenager were ered in the villa during Ita- tion by challenging it in a road was spared any dam- ters swept away his car,
among the flood victims ly's long weekend center- local tribunal. age, ANSA reported. Italian news reports said.q
from the family get-to- ing on the Nov. 1 All Saint's
gether in Casteldaccia. A Day national holiday.
survivor, Giuseppe Giorda- Although Italian news re-
no, lost his wife, two of his ports originally described
children, his parents and a him of the house's owner,
brother, Italian news agen- Giordano said he was rent-
cy ANSA said. ing the villa.
State broadcaster Casteldaccia Mayor
RaiNews24 said Giordano Giovanni Di Giacinto told
was stepping outside on Sky TG24 that the flood
Saturday night when the water reached 2 meters
torrent rushed in and de- (move than 6 feet) high in-
scribed him as the sole per- side the home.
son to made it out alive. Rescuers retrieved the bod-
When he opened the door, ies from the home. A Sicil-
"there was a river of water, ian prosecutor opened an
I was knocked down and investigation to determine
grabbed hold of a tree," if neglect, such as possible
Giordano told reporters be- inadequate drainage of
tween sobs. "I was yelling, the river, played a role in
'Help, help.'" the deaths or if the home
"My son Federico tried to was built illegally close to
save his little sister, but both the river.
died," Giordano said, telling The latter might be the
reporters he heard his son case. Pino Virga, the mayor
call out "I handle" about of the neighboring town
the girl's rescue. of Altavilla Milicia, told
Then "I saw the windows SkyTG24 TV that other lo-
go dark, the light go out, a cal authorities told him the
layer of mud was moving house was slated for demo-
across the floor," Giordano lition because it stood too
said, Then, he said he was near the river.
swept away from the house Separately, Di Giacinto told
by the force of the water. reporters the homeowner