THIS is the terrifying moment a huge wave crashed onto a coastal road and threatened to sweep cars straight into the sea.
Violent storms hit southern Italy this week, causing huge waves to crash onto roads and flood areas packed with vehicles.
Shocking video shows the drama unfolding on a narrow stretch of road between the coastal towns of Scilla and Chianalea.
As flood water already covered the asphalt, two cars hesitated, apparently unsure of risking going forward.
Chaos then ensued as a huge wave overcame the seawall and crashed onto the road, completely soaking the first car and swallowing it in white water.
Water crossed the road and cascaded downhill as another wave hit further ahead, raising flood levels further.
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The second car, located further from the danger, suddenly reversed and fled the scene, disappearing from sight.
Moments later, the first soaked car slowly backed away, attempting a desperate three-point turn as the sea continued to rage.
The dramatic footage was captured on January 10 by Carmelo Magenta and later verified by Storyful.
Despite the terrifying scenes, Italian media reported that the waves caused no injuries.
Storms have continued to hit the Calabria region, with forecasters warning of new strong winds and rough seas in the Strait of Messina.
The town of Scilla is ominously named after the mythological sea monster Scylla, a creature said to terrorize sailors in the same treacherous waters.
Weather officials say the dangerous conditions are far from over and rough seas are expected to continue.
It comes as terrible flooding plunged Italian tourist hotspots into chaos in November last year, and two people were reported missing after a landslide destroyed a house.
Six regions, including Tuscany, were placed under severe weather warnings as torrential rains turned roads into rivers and flooded entire communities.
The drama unfolded in Brazzano di Cormons, near Gorizia, where a landslide crashed into a house, sparking a frantic search for survivors.
Firefighters rushed to the scene and pulled one person alive from the rubble and took him to hospital with a broken leg.
Widespread devastation was also reported in Friuli Venezia Giulia in northeastern Italy.
Emilia Romagna, Liguria, Lombardy, Tuscany and Umbria were put on high alert after a night of biblical downpours.
Schools in Cormons were forced to close, while around 300 Versa residents were evacuated after the Torre River burst its banks.
Some locals were forced to climb onto rooftops or climb out of windows to escape the rapidly rising water.
Dozens of emergency teams were deployed, with helicopters and small boats scouring the flooded streets.
Shocking images showed residents wading through knee-deep water as entire streets turned into raging rivers.
Entire communities were submerged in murky brown water, and homes and infrastructure were severely damaged.
