Two killed and 24 missing in severe floods in Italy and France

A building topples over by the Cervo river after heavy rains in Biella, northern Italy (Firefighter Vigili del Fuoco via AP)

Flooding from record rains in the mountainous region that spans France and Italy has killed two people in Italy and left at least 24 people in the two countries missing.

A storm that moved overnight across south-eastern France and then northern Italy caused major flooding on both sides of the border, destroying bridges, blocking roads and isolating communities.