One man was killed in Genoa on Friday after rivers in the Italian northern city and surrounding villages burst their banks due to heavy rainfall, local reports said.

Huge amounts of water flooded the roads and reached a height of nearly two meters in some areas, according to witnesses quoted by ANSA news agency.

Pictures and videos posted on social networks showed cars and road signs being swept away by the floods. Water also uprooted trees and caused landslides in Genoa's outskirts.

Scuba divers rescued several trapped people in submerged cars while firefighters reportedly intervened in at least 250 critical situations. A number of volunteers were also helping relief efforts.

Several districts of the coastal city remained without electricity and smaller villages were cut off from the outside world.

The local authorities urged residents to move to high ground and stay at home. Motorways, major shops and schools remained closed on Friday.

In 2011 heavy rains and floods caused six deaths and huge material damages in the same city, forcing more than 100 people to leave their homes. Enditem

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