Shock moment roads turn to rivers as tourist towns in Italy & Spain battered by flash floods & Europe braces for storms

THIS is the moment a powerful flash flood turned roads into raging rivers as a massive storm batters Europe. Shocking footage showed cars moving like boats through waterlogged streets at the charming town of Chiavari, Italy. Cars moved like boats through the waterlogged streets Credit: X/mamboitaliano_ Water levels surged as rain pounded the area Credit: EPA High water cascaded through the town with residents seen gingerly slogging through murky submerged streets on Thursday. Meteorologists reported that a total of 126mm of rain fell on Chiavari which sits around 25 miles east of Genoa. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! An urgent yellow flood warning was issued on Thursday for the wider Liguria region, which includes Genoa and Chiavari. It is understood the warning was upgraded to Orange for the north-eastern parts of Liguria and the eastern slopes of the Po Valley. Officials say 126mm of rain fell on Chiavari Credit: EPA Waves broke as cars attempted to plough through the water Credit: X/mamboitaliano_ The regions environmental protection agency, Arpal, said: “Several storm cells developed within a line of instability that crossed our region. “These were small but particularly intense phenomena, which originated at sea and moved inland, eventually causing localized flooding.” The risk of flooding is set to run through Friday to around 3pm local time. Elsewhere in Italy, 250 people were evacuated from a riverside campsite in Bergamo around 8pm. Most read in The Sun Residents remove mud from a street following heavy rains in Chiavari Credit: EPA Lightening storms struck Majorca on Thursday Credit: X/DarranMarshall Crews acted after a mass of mud and rock began shifting on the slope directly above the site while the river below rose. Those evacuated were taken, along with some local residents, to public halls opened up by the two councils. It comes as Europe braces for powerful storms, which have already caused extensive damage. Majorcans were similarly put on high alert on Thursday as officials warned for “extreme precautions” to be taken against the forecast storm. Drains were overloaded with water Credit: X /JuanjoPerez_ Furniture flowed through the streets in Majorca Credit: Solarpix An urgent orange weather warning was issued as tropical thunderstorms were set forecast batter the Balearic Island. Around 75 incidents were reported as a result of the storm, the Majorca Daily Bulletin reports. Bolts of lightning zapped frequently throughout the evening, as rain pounded the streets. Video shows water surging from drains however the main issue was the intense wind. Rain hit the Piazza del Duomo, Milan, on Thursday Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Fast moving waters flowed through Valencia Credit: Solarpix Over 30 trees toppled across the holiday destination, with gusts of wind reaching 62mph in the south-central town of Porreres. Elsewhere in Majorca, wind speeds exceeded 45 mph, and the island remains under a yellow alert for rain until Friday evening. Aemet – The Spanish Meteorological Agency – says wild conditions are due to continue on Saturday, with thunderstorms possible. Violent storms also hit Spain‘s Valencia region yesterday with more than 50 emergency interventions reported by local media. Wind speeds were recorded over 62mph and muddy water ran through the streets. The Generalitat’s Emergency Coordination Centre has warned that storms could continue bringing significant thunder and lightning. They advise people to remain cautious. Also over the weekend, three people were killed and two babies were injured in devastating flash floods and a landslide caused by torrential rain. The sweeping torrent hit the village of Manzanedo de Valdueza, in the Castile and Leon region on Saturday. Comment now