Tornado hits city in Italy's Piedmont region

BIELLA, Italy, June 19 (UPI) -- A tornado hit the small northern Italian city of Biella, uprooting trees and causing some damage Wednesday morning.

The tornado developed during a storm that dumped heavy rain on the area in the Piedmont in the foothills of the Alps in northwestern Italy, the Italian news agency ANSA reported. Several buildings lost their roofs and two trees believed to be centuries old were toppled near the castle of Varrone.

In the town of Vigiliano, the storm damaged a playground and school. But no deaths or injuries were reported.

One local mayor has already said she will ask for the declaration of a state of emergency.