A cyclist rides through a flooded street in the village of Castel Bolognese, Italy, on Wednesday. AP

At least nine people died in Italy's northern Emilia Romagna region as heavy rains flooded rivers and submerged entire neighbourhoods and farmland Wednesday.

Exceptional rains in a drought-struck region of northern Italy swelled rivers over their banks, killing at least nine people, forcing the evacuation of thousands and prompting officials to warn that Italy needs a national plan to combat climate change-induced flooding.

At least 12,000 were forced to flee their homes two days ago after torrential rainfall caused flash floods in and around Italy's Emilia-Romagna region.

Stefano Bonaccini, president of the region, said on Wednesday he feared the death toll would rise as reports of missing persons were pouring in amid rescue efforts aimed at removing residents stuck on the high floors of buildings or isolated on rooftops.

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According to local media reports, the region was hit by more than 50cm of rain in 48 hours — around half its normal total for a full year.

Bonaccini added the rainfall and flooding were "a catastrophic event that had never been seen before".

Nello Musumeci, Italy's Minister for civil protection and marine policies, vowed to rush aid workers and equipment to the beleaguered region, Xinhua news agency reported.

Residents sit in a dinghy during rescuing operations in Massa Lombarda, Italy, on Wednesday. AFP

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni issued a statement, making emergency funds available immediately and expressing her thanks to rescue workers "who risk their own lives to save those of others".

Meloni said on Wednesday that she would convene a special cabinet meeting to approve additional emergency measures for the region.

The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Formula One car race scheduled for Sunday has been cancelled amid safety concerns and to free up resources for rescue efforts.

Italy has suffered under the impact of severe weather waves for a year-and-a-half, with a dry period during the winter of 2021-2022 causing a record-setting drought and high temperatures last summer resulting in dozens of deaths and slashing agricultural production by as much as a third.

A resident holds his cat while being rescued along with a woman on a digger in Massa Lombarda Italy. AFP

Water levels in many parts of the nation's network of rivers dropped to all-time lows and a lack of snowfall last winter gave rise to concerns that the coming summer could be another difficult one for Italian farmers and travellers in the country.

Recent weeks, however, have seen intense rainfall across much of the country, overwhelming infrastructure and sending rivers through their banks, causing school and business closures and rerouting transportation networks.