Florence, Pisa on flood alert as heavy rain closes museums and roads - Residents have been evacuated as several major rivers threaten to burst their banks

Heavy rain swelled rivers and flooded streets in an area near Florence on Friday, with authorities issuing a red weather alert for the historic Italian city and its surroundings and

Heavy rains has hit the northern Italian regions of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, pushing the main rivers in the regions above alert levels for floodings.

Flooding and landslides have been reported in parts of northern Italy amid red weather alerts affecting cities including Florence and Pisa. Torrential rain prompted the alert for parts of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, with heavy and persistent rainfall expected into the afternoon on Friday.

Italian authorities ordered dozens of people in Tuscany to leave their homes Friday after heavy rains swelled rivers and flooded streets near the historic cities of Florence and Pisa.