Flooded Venice battles new tidal surge

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) – Flooded Venice has been hit by a new high tide of 154cm (5ft), giving residents no respite from a crisis costing Italy millions of euros.

World-famous St Mark’s Square, a magnet for tourists, has been closed, and schools are shut for a third day.

The canal city’s famous waterbuses – the vaporetti – are not running.

The 187cm peak on Tuesday was the highest level in more than 50 years, damaging monuments, shops and homes. More than 80% of the city was flooded.

The government declared a state of emergency in the Unesco world heritage site.

Residents with flood-damaged homes will get up to €5,000 (£4,300; $5,500), and businesses up to €20,000 in compensation.

Desperate measures as water seeps everywhere