VENICE - Floodwaters drenched most of the tourist destination of Venice and
led to the evacuation of 200 people in Tuscany, as bad weather hit northern
Italy at the weekend, authorities said Sunday.
In Venice itself, heavy rains and winds from the south triggered "acqua
alta" (high water) and 70 per cent of the city was flooded, with sea levels
reaching a peak of 1.5 metres (five feet) above normal before receding
slightly, they said.
In Tuscany, around 200 people were evacuated because of heavy rains which
flooded homes and caused mudslides, local officials said.
The most affected region was the province of Massa and Carrara, which
produces the famous Carrara marble.
In Massa di Carrara alone, some 50 people were evacuated and a car was
carried away by an overflowing river, but the couple in the vehicle were saved
by firefighters.
The authorities have urged the local population to avoid going into the
streets and to stay in the the upper floors of their homes.
In Pisa, some streets have been without electricity following the floods. In
the large Tuscan port of Livorno, civil defence forces were on alert because of
the heavy rains.
In Liguria, the region bordering Tuscany, 30 people had to be evacuated, the
authorities said.
In anticipation of the floods two days ago, the authorities issued warnings
and planned security measures to avoid any casualties after 13 people died in
Tuscany and Liguria a year ago.
The bad weather was heading slowly towards the centre of the country and was
set to hit Rome where civil defence forces have been put on alert.
A man carries luggages on a flooded St Mark's square during a 'acqua alta' on
November 11, 2012 in Venice. Rain and wind hit the north of Italy on Sunday and
the folooding reached 150 centimetres in Venice.
A family wears plastic bags over their legs in a small street in Venice as
flood waters hit knee-high levels on November 11, 2012.
Tourists walk on footbridges during a 'acqua alta' on November 11, 2012 in
Venice. Flood waters have merged with the lagoon in the horizon.
Tourists walk on footbridges near the Rialto bridge during a 'acqua alta' on
November 11, 2012 in Venice. Some wear rubber boots, others put on flip flops.
Footbridges set up near the Rialto bridge, a famous landmark in Venice.
Tourists walk on footbridges near the Rialto bridge on November 11, 2012 in
Venice. It is winter in Venice now with temperatures ranging from an average of
15 deg C in the day to 5 deg C at night.
STOPPING FOR A CUPPA': People take a coffee in a flooded shop during a 'acqua
alta' on November 11, 2012 in Venice.
A man runs in a flooded street during a 'acqua alta' on November 11, 2012 in
Venice.
A shoes seller displays wellies outside his shop in a flooded street during a
'acqua alta' on November 11, 2012 in Venice.
