The swollen Bacchiglione River roars through Vicenza, here in northeastern Italy.<br/> <br />Large areas of central and northern Italy are submerged after torrential rains caused several major rivers to burst their banks.<br/> <br />Hundreds of people have been evacuated from Massa Carrara in the north of Tuscany, as normally small streams were transformed into raging torrents.<br/> <br />This week's deluge is already thought to have caused millions of euros in damage, as electricity blackouts sweep the region.<br/> <br />Civil protection units are to remain on high alert over the next few days over fears mudslides could hit the area.<br/> <br />Just last year floods devastated some of the same areas, sending massive waves rolling down these normally placid rivers.
