Venice hit by worst floods in ten years - in pictures

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Venice has been devastated by the worst floods to hit the lagoon city in at least a decade, as heavy rain and high winds sweep across Italy.

A total of nine people have died in violent storms that have been battering the country since the weekend, Reuters reports.

In Venice, water levels have risen as high as 160cm (5ft 3in) at high tide - putting 77% of the city under water, says CNN. The waters have only topped 150cm (4ft 11in) five times since records began, adds The Daily Telegraph.

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Drenched tourists were barred from an inundated St Mark’s Square on Monday, while restaurant and shop staff used water pumps to try to minimise flood damage. Meanwhile, makeshift bridges were erected to help people navigate the streets.

Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said the city’s underwater barriers, currently still under construction, would have prevented the flooding had they been completed, reports ABC News.

Brugnaro added that he had asked to talk with Prime Ministser Giuseppe Conte to underline the urgency of the project.

The high tides continue today, but were expected to be less severe.

Click on the gallery above for more photographs of the flooding chaos.