2 dead, 9 injured in tornado in Sicily

Rome, Sep 11 (EFE).- Rescue operations were underway Saturday after two people were killed and 9 were injured by a tornado in the Sicilian town of Pantelleria.

Officials fear there could be more victims, while the southern Italian region of Calabria is on red alert due to the bad weather.

The tornado broke out suddenly in Pantelleria at around 7pm Friday and blew away some roofs and overturned several cars, sweeping up everything in its path, local media reported.

The fatalities are a 47-year-old off-duty firefighter and an elderly man.

Firefighters and Civil Protection have been searching all night for missing persons, as many tourists were visiting the island, according to the Civil Protection agency.

The rescue operation, which has been reinforced by a team of firefighters specialized in disaster response, was ongoing in the district of Campobello.

Carabinieri (armed police) and Civil Protection volunteers were also working in the area. EFE

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