Flood death toll now 13

RESCUE crews worked on Thursday to reach towns and villages in northern Italy still isolated by heavy rains and flooding, as the death toll rose to 13 and authorities began mapping out clean-up and reconstruction plans.

The extreme weather behind this week's disaster - a prolonged drought punctuated by 36 hours of intense rainfall, two weeks after another downpour - led to two dozen rivers and tributaries bursting their banks.

The force of water sent torrents of mud tearing through entire towns in Emilia-Romagna, flooding storefronts and basements.

Local mayors warned that some remote villages were still completely cut off because landslides had made roads impassable and phone service remained severed.

That has prevented rescue teams from reaching residents and authorities from understanding the full scope of their needs, said Mercato Seraceno mayor Monica Rossi.

The death toll rose to 13 after more bodies were discovered on Thursday in the hard-hit province of Ravenna.