Storm Ciaran is driving Europe crazy 🆘 Italy under water! 48,000 people without electricity!

At least six people died in central Tuscany as Storm Ciaran swept through Italy, wreaking havoc in more western parts of Europe. The governor of Tuscany said six people were killed when torrential rain lashed the inland Mugello valley from the coastal city of Livorno as rivers burst their banks, flooding towns and villages. Among the dead are two elderly people, reports the Italian news agency. One person also died in Albania after losing control of the car they were driving, bringing the storm’s death toll to 14 on the continent. Italy’s civil protection authorities said 200 millimeters (nearly eight inches) of rain fell in three hours. It was the heaviest rain in 100 years. “There was an unprecedented surge of water“ Climate scientists say man-made climate change has led to more rainfall in storms like Ciaran, often leading to more severe damage. “If the conditions are different from what they were 20 years ago, that is obvious to everyone,“ the civil protection minister said, noting that weather systems in Italy have become more tropical in nature. At one point there were fears that the Arno River might flood the historic city of Florence, but the flood point passed without serious incident. About 190 people were forced to flee their homes, including 150 in Campi Bizenzio, where houses were flooded and parked cars were half submerged. Resident Enza Carfagna told the agency how her family rescued an elderly wheelchair-bound neighbor from the first floor by using a blanket to carry her up the stairs. “It didn’t seem like much of a problem last night, there was very little rain. Then around 9pm we saw the brown water coming and followed the woman,” she said. High-speed train services between Florence and Milan were suspended, and the Italian government declared a state of emergency after about 48,000 people were left without electricity. It allocated an initial 5 million euros ($5.4 million) to help the most affected regions. Huge waves also hit the Adriatic coast of the Balkans, with strong winds uprooting trees and tearing off roofs. Ferry service to Croatian islands suspended due to weather. Storm Ciaran was caused by a powerful jet stream from the Atlantic that brought torrential rain and fierce winds that have already caused severe flooding in the UK, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. More than half a million French homes remain without power for the second day, mainly in the northwestern region of Brittany. Train services were halted in several areas and many roads remained closed. The French president visited the hurricane-hit areas of Brittany and the prime minister visited the worst-hit areas of Normandy.