GHIBULLO, Italy, May  20, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - More than 36,000 people have now 
been forced from their homes by deadly floods in northeast Italy, regional 
officials said Saturday, as rising waters swallowed more houses and fresh 
landslides isolated hamlets

 Violent downpours earlier this week killed 14 people, transforming streets 
in the cities and towns of the Emilia Romagna region into rivers.

  And as more rain fell, regional authorities extended the red weather alert 
to Sunday.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Saturday she was leaving the G7 
summit in Japan early to deal with the emergency.

 "Frankly I cannot remain so far from Italy in such a complex moment," she 
told reporters, thanking the 5,000 people -- from rescue workers to volunteers 
-- mobilised to help those hit by the floods.

 She also thanked her fellow G7 leaders for their offers of aid.

  Meloni was expected to visit some of the worst-hit areas on Sunday.

 The authorities in Ravenna on Saturday ordered the immediate evacuation of 
more at-risk hamlets.

 A helicopter involved in attempts to restore electricity crashed Saturday 
near Lugo, injuring one of the four people on board, the fire service said.

 The floods have caused over 305 landslides and damaged or closed over 500 
roads in the region.

 "The water began to rise at 2:00 pm (on Friday), coming from across the 
fields," after nearby canals were swollen by flooded rivers, electrician Mauro 
Lodola told AFP.

 "It's difficult. I want it to be over quickly, to be able to go forwards... 
to pick ourselves up," the 54-year-old said, standing thigh-high in the dirty 
water surrounding his house.

 Lodola choked up as he showed his ruined house, the water lapping around 
the fridge in the kitchen and against the mattress on his bed, which was piled 
high with salvaged furniture.

 Outside, a white door floated past a shed, where chickens who had been 
moved to safety clucked nervously.

 Bologna's mayor Matteo Lepore said Saturday it would take "months, and in 
some places maybe years" for roads and infrastructure to be repaired.