A red weather alert issued Friday by authorities in Florence, as well as in major cities across Tuscany, after heavy rain swelled rivers and flooded streets was eased on Saturday when weather conditions improved.

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,

Florence was out of danger due to the "decisive" role of a key floodgate that prevented the Arno River from bursting its banks after heavy rains, Italian authorities said.

Florence was out of danger due to the "decisive" role of a key floodgate that prevented the Arno river from bursting its banks after heavy rains, Italian authorities said Saturday.A floodgate located between the two cities,

Authorities in Italy have placed Florence, Pisa, and surrounding areas under a red weather alert due to heavy rainfall and severe flooding.

Bad weather on Friday pummelled Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna as several rivers in the two regions were above alert level for torrential rain and flooding. In Tuscany, where schools remained closed in several cities including Florence amid an orange weather alert,