Storm leaves trail of damage across Europe

Western Europe was bracing for another high-impact weather assault from Storm Domingos on Sunday, having taken a beating from Storm Ciaran since Thursday.

Ciaran pushed into Italy's Tuscany region early on Saturday, claiming a seventh life in the country after leaving much of Western Europe grappling with its trail of devastation brought about by fierce winds and widespread flooding.

The body of a 69-year-old man was discovered in Campi Bisenzio, about 15 kilometers northwest of Florence, the ANSA news agency reported. It said another person remained missing a day after rivers had burst their banks following heavy rain in the central Italian region.

Starting on Thursday, Storm Ciaran has swept across the continent, driven by a powerful jet stream sweeping in from the Atlantic. Torrential rain and fierce winds have resulted in extensive flooding in many countries, and the latest fatality in Italy brings the storm's death toll to 15 across Europe during the week.

Countries most affected included Ireland, various parts of the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and Italy.

Climate scientists have previously attributed human-induced climate change to heavier rainfall and more severe damage during storms like Ciaran.

Tuscany's president Eugenio Giani commented that the region has never experienced such an immense amount of rain in such a brief period.

He told broadcaster Sky TG24 that experts think the downpour was likely the most severe in a century. "What happened overnight in Tuscany has a clear name: climate change," he added in a social media post.

Giani told ANSA around 300 people have been forced to evacuate their homes in Tuscany, while many others have their water and power supplies cut.

The disaster had caused 300 million euros ($322 million) of damage, based on initial estimates, he added.

On Friday, the Italian government declared a state of emergency and initially allocated 5 million euros to assist the areas most severely impacted.

In northern France, some 260,000 homes were still without electricity on Saturday, mainly in Brittany and Normandy, and the region was preparing for a second onslaught with the imminent arrival of Storm Domingos, reported Radio France Internationale (RFI).

Storm Ciaran has resulted in at least two deaths in France, leaving behind damage that is expected to take several days to clear. Trains were stopped in several areas and many roads remained closed.

France's President Emmanuel Macron visited the department of Finistere in Brittany on Friday, the most affected region, and called on French people to "remain extremely vigilant" in the coming days.

The UK and Ireland suffered the worst of Storm Ciaran on Thursday, while some parts of southern England continued to see heavy rain on Saturday. Roads in some areas were blocked and there were power outages due to storm debris and fallen trees.