(Updates with details) ROME, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Rome looked set to be spared a disastrous flood of its famous Tiber river on Friday as rains finally eased after pounding the eternal city for days. Rome's mayor declared a state of emergency on Thursday after severe storms flooded underpasses, disrupted trains and flights and killed one person. The smaller Aniene river running through the city's northeast burst its banks on Friday, forcing police to seal off nearby areas and block off a major road leading into Rome. "The situation is now under control," assured Mayor Gianni Alemanno, who has compared the rain's impact to an earthquake. Alemanno warned of a risk of blackouts and an overflow of the sewer system and urged residents to avoid driving. The Tiber, on whose banks Rome was founded, was expected to reach its maximum level by 0200 GMT on Saturday -- without overflowing in the city. It has already reached one of its highest levels since World War Two, officials said. "The river will stay within its banks," said Bernardo de Bernardinis at the Civil Protection agency monitoring the river. Boats were ripped from their moorings by the rising waters and authorities sealed off the area around the Milvian Bridge. Unions suspended a planned Friday transport strike in Rome to prevent further disruption to the city's snarled traffic. Although rains were expected to let up on Saturday, there were forecasts of a possible increase in storm activity from Sunday evening that could again test Italy's capital. Heavy snow has blanketed the north of Italy and strong winds and downpours have lashed the south this week. Schools were shut in some cities on Friday. A small bridge collapsed in the southern province of Calabria, killing a man. More than 100 dogs perished after a kennel flooded. Eight Boy Scouts were rescued from Mount Etna in Sicily after becoming stranded without food. Italian agricultural lobby group CIA said the rains caused damage worth 200 million euros to the agriculture sector, saying entire fields of cereal crops and fruit had been destroyed. (Additional reporting by Reuters Television; writing by Phil Stewart and Deepa Babington; editing by Andrew Roche)
The Tiber river flows in downtown Rome near Sant'Angelo castle December 12, 2008. Officials put Rome on a state of alert for the Tiber breaking its banks on Friday, after days ...
