I am watching from Australia as heavy rain for days has sent water pouring down the rivers and hillsides causing serious damage all over Bagni di Lucca.

We have had our apartment in Ponte a Serraglio since 2003 and I have never seen the piazza flooded with muddy water. Local resident Tom Beraska captured the muddy scene from his balcony.

The piazza was completely flooded with muddy water.

The deluge came down the hill along the road from Bagni Caldi.

People jumped in to clean up as soon as the flow stopped.

I am happy to report that Bar Italia has recovered quickly and it will be business as usual soon.

There was serious flooding in Fornoli and a few families had to be evacuated.

The Red Cross stepped up and provided beds for people not able to relocate with family.

The driver of a police car was lucky to avoid a deluge and falling trees on the road from Fornoli. He managed to film the whole thing from the car.

Several roads around Bagni di Lucca have been affected.

The river is high at Ponte della Maddalena and the road was flooded at times.

Fortunately it seems that there have been no injuries. People have come out to work together to clean up the mess. Residents have joined the Red Cross, the Mercy, the Municipal police, Carabinieri and the Civil Protection to move mud, fallen trees and debris, clear pipes and grids and slowly bring things back to normal. These awful events bring out the best in people. With people power Bagni di Lucca will recover.