800 dogs die in kennel flood in Italy
MORE than 800 dogs are either dead or missing after their kennel was flooded when a river in southern Italy burst its banks.

The kennel housed about 1000 dogs, but authorities were only able to save 270 of the canines when the Petrace River, close to the city of Reggio di Calabria, overflowed.

Italy has been battered by driving winds and rains since Wednesday with three people losing their lives.

The River Tiber, which runs through Rome and which has risen to its highest level in four decades, was expected to reach its peak later today.

Residents living nearby were on alert in case the river's banks burst, while some people in Ostia, southwest of the capital, were due to be evacuated from their homes. Rail traffic in the region was also affected.

Venice has also suffered serious flooding for the second time in two weeks, with the waters reaching 1.05m on Thursday morning.

Last week, the "acqua alta" (high water) reached 1.56m, the highest level since 1986, before falling back again.
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