( CNN ) -- A storm has killed at least 16 people on the Italian island of Sardinia , with two people unaccounted for and fears the death toll will rise , officials say . Confirming the deaths to CNN affiliate Sky TG24 , Regional President Ugo Cappellacci described the situation as `` dramatic '' and `` critical . '' Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta held a Cabinet meeting to declare a state of emergency in Sardinia . He told reporters the government has allocated 20 million euros ( $ 27 million ) in immediate aid to the Mediterranean island . The money will be used to help save lives , assist the displaced and repair roads , he said . Italian President Giorgio Napolitano issued a statement expressing solidarity with the affected communities . Civil Protection Agency spokeswoman Francesca Maffini said that the two missing people were a farmer and a woman who lived alone . Both were in the province of Nuoro , she said . Maffini told CNN the island had received six months ' worth of rainfall -- 450 mm ( more than a foot ) -- in 12 hours . Addressing lawmakers in Italy 's Parliament on Tuesday , Environment Minister Andrea Orlando said the area had an average rainfall of 1,000 mm , and a similar deluge had not occurred there in centuries . CNN meteorologist Brandon Miller said that while the worst weather had moved on from Sardinia , the island will still experience some showers and gusty winds over 50 kph through Wednesday as the storm system moves east in the Mediterranean Sea . Italy 's state news agency ANSA reported that flooding from the storm -- named locally as Cleopatra -- forced many people to flee their homes , with thousands seeking shelter in public facilities such as gymnasiums . ANSA said a Brazilian family of four was among the dead : a mother , father and two teenage children drowned when a flash flood hit their ground-floor flat in Arzachena , near Olbia . Olbia 's councilor for tourism , Marco Vargiu , told CNN that the storm had been `` a disaster '' for the town of about 70,000 , with authorities saying 13 people had died in the broader area . Vargiu said the dead included two young babies . In one case , a father aged 35 and his 3-year-old son had died in flood waters near the town , he said . `` The worst conditions are here in Olbia . There are rivers of water in the town . In lots of houses the ground floors are full of water , one or two meters of water , and a lot of families have lost everything -- their house , their car , their clothes , the furniture . '' Vargiu said the houses were filled with a mixture of water , sand and rubbish . `` We have electricity , but the streets , the bridges have been washed away . '' `` My house has no damage , but just 15 meters away there are friends that have lost all their furniture , their car , because they were carried away by the rivers , '' he said . `` Disasters like this have never happened . We do n't remember a disaster like this . '' But Vargiu said a lot of ministry staff and emergency workers had come to aid the town , and there were many volunteers helping its inhabitants . `` In Olbia there is a very , very good solidarity , '' he said . `` We have two hospitals working hard overnight and today because they had a lot of people asking for help . There were a lot of accidents in cars , in houses , and some walls fell down . '' Vargiu said a lot of money would be needed for Sardinia to recover from the storm , with many families and businesses affected . The amount offered by the government might be enough to restore some of the town 's connections to the rest of the island , he said , but it was not enough long term . `` It 's very difficult to count the financial cost to the town , the houses . The economy of the town has received a big damage . I do n't think it 's enough . '' Italy 's Civil Protection Agency said 2,500 people have been displaced and more than 10,000 people are without electricity . The agency is still trying to reach all the areas affected , it said in a statement . Widespread flooding and landslides have blocked roads , and the agency urged motorists to drive only when necessary and to check road conditions before beginning a journey . The agency said the bad weather started in the Campidano area , in southwestern Sardinia , then spread across the rest of the island , with the worst affected provinces Olbia and Nuoro . Olbia 's port remains operational , and the airport is partially open , it said . The coast guard said there had been reports of flooding in other parts of Italy , particularly near the city of Catanzaro , in the southern region of Calabria , and in Venice during the high tide .
Italian President Enrico Marino declares emergency , allocates 20 million euros in immediate aid . President Francesco Cappellacci described the situation as ` ` dramatic '' and ` ` critical '' Cleopatra struck in the island 's southwest before spreading , state media reports .