At least six people killed as torrential rain causes flooding in Italy

Trees lie on a flooded street in Leghorn on the Tuscan coast of Italy. Credit: PA

At least six people, including a family of four, have been killed after torrential rain in Italy triggered flooding in the Tuscan port town of Livorno.

The Italian news agency ANSA said the bodies of a 4-year-old boy, his parents and his grandfather were found in the flooded basement of their two-family home.

According to state television, the grandfather had been able to save the boy's sister before he died.

Two persons were reported missing.

Mayor Filippo Nogarin said "a crazy amount of rain" pummelled Livorno and "the city is literally devastated". He appealed for volunteers to help.

Strong winds toppled trees and parked cars were nearly submerged by floodwaters that also left streets clogged with mud.

The city has a population of 170,000 and is a popular spot for travelers catching ferries to the islands of Elba and Sardinia.

Train services were interrupted in parts of the Tuscan coastal area.

In Rome, which until recently suffered through three and a half months of drought, the downpour made streets resemble fast-moving streams and several underground stations were closed.