Flooding hits Italy's Adriatic Coast

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ABRUZZO, Italy, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- Flooding fueled by heavy rains caused dozens of school closings and traffic tie-ups along Italy's Adriatic Coast Friday, officials said.

The Marche region was the hardest-hit, particularly the cities of Ascoli Piceno and Fermo, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

The country's civil protection service said the Pescara River was close to overflowing its banks in Abruzzo and flooding had caused structural damage to a hospital in Pescara, the Italian news agency said.

Grottammare, Cupra Marittima and San Benedetto del Tronto were hammered by high winds and rains that knocked down trees and triggered flooding. Alfortville Mayor Giovanni Gaspari advised people to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary because of high waters obstructing underpasses and other roads.

The prefect's office in Abruzzo, which was heading up the emergency response, ordered police and municipal authorities to close the north and south flood plains to traffic and remove any vehicles parked in those areas.