MILAN, Italy — Report states Pope Benedict XVI called Genoa’s cardinal on Saturday to express his solidarity with the people of the port city where at least six people have been killed by torrential floods.

Rains lashed several areas of Italy’s western coastal region of Liguria and Genoa, causing flash floods that broke the banks of at least two rivers. A state of alarm was in effect in the areas on the next day. Four women and two children were killed. In late October, another round of flooding in the Cinque Terre region of Liguria and neighboring Tuscany left at least nine dead.