Tourists swim in Venice square as heavy rain pounds Italy

Rain's picture

Reuters 11/12/12

(Reuters) - Nearly three quarters of Venice was flooded on Monday and tourists swam in St Mark's Square as a wave of bad weather swept through northern and central Italy, forcing the evacuation of 200 people from their homes in Tuscany.

Tourists walk on raised platforms for flood waters in St. Mark Square during a period of seasonal high water in Venice October 27, 2012. The water level in the canal city rose to 127 cm (50 inches) above the normal level, according to the monitoring institute. REUTERS-Manuel Silvestri

Shops, homes and historic palaces filled with water in Venice and authorities said 70 percent of the lagoon city was flooded. High water in Venice reached 149 cm (5ft), the sixth highest level since records began in 1872, forcing residents to wade through waist-deep water. Tourists in swimming costumes sat at cafe tables under the water.

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