Hurricane storm turns streets into lakes in Italy

A powerful cyclonic storm hit the southern Italian island of Sicily on Tuesday, causing massive flooding in Catania, turning streets into rivers and squares into lakes, with rescuers saying at least two people died.

A spokesman for the Misericordia volunteer group, which helps police and firefighters, said the body of a man was found under a car in torrential rain sweeping the town of Gravina, north of Catania.

Police confirmed the death in a telephone conversation with Reuters, without elaborating.

On Monday, a 67-year-old man died after water and mud hit his car.

His wife is still missing.

The rain flooded some of the famous streets and squares of Catania, causing power outages in the city center and inundating shops.

Mayor Salvo Polizzi wrote on Facebook: "I urge everyone not to leave their homes except for emergencies."

He added that he ordered the closure of all stores except pharmacies and grocery stores until midnight.

Media reported that a ward in Garibaldi Hospital in Catania was flooded.

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