At least 10 people died on Monday in flooding caused by heavy rain in the southern Italian region of Calabria, a spokesman for the Italian Civil Protection told CNN.

Among the dead are six men and four women, the agency said. A further six people were injured, including a child.
Rescue operations started immediately after a small stream near the village of Civita overflowed at 5:30 p.m. local time, the spokesman said.

The operations are still underway in the flooded canyon area, as at least three more people remain missing. So far, 23 people have been rescued.

More than a hundred emergency rescuers are searching for survivors, the spokesman said, adding that the number of people missing is unknown.

According to CNN affiliate Rai, a group of hikers exploring a narrow gorge in the Pollino National Park were caught by surprise by the rapidly rising waters.

Among the 23 people rescued so far is a child who was transported to a nearby hospital, Rai reported. The National Alpine Cliff and Cave Rescue Corps (CNSAS) confirmed on Twitter that one child suffering from hypothermia had been evacuated.

The search for survivors will continue through the night, the head of Civil Protection Calabria, Carlo Tansi, told Rai.

“Water rescuers, divers and a helicopter working on Alpine-river operations,” Italy's Civil Protection Agency wrote on Twitter Monday evening.

According to Rai, rescuers are hopeful that some hikers may have found refuge from the floodwater on rocky ledges in the gorge.

The largely rural province covers the “toe” of Italy, and is the southernmost part of the Italian mainland.

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