Rain and floods swept through northwestern Italy Friday, triggering flash floods that killed at least six people.

Officials say two of the dead are children.

The port city of Genoa was flooded with knee-high water. Local authorities urged residents to move to upper floors and some people were evacuated.

The Italian news agency Ansa says the city has been put on high alert and a ban on driving private vehicles comes into force Saturday morning.

A soccer match scheduled for Sunday between the local team and Inter Milan has been postponed.

Heavy rains are expected at least through Saturday.

The floods came a week after rainstorms caused serious flooding and mudslides in the northwestern regions of Tuscany and Liguria, killing 10 people.