Venice flooded as 200 evacuated in Tuscany
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A tourist crosses flooded St Mark's Square in Venice, Italy, Sunday, Nov 11, 2012. High tides have flooded Venice, leading Venetians and tourists to don high boots and use wooden walkways to cross St Mark's Square and other areas under water. -- PHOTO: AP
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People sit at the table of a bar in a flooded St Mark's Square in Venice, Italy, Sunday, Nov 11, 2012. High tides have flooded Venice, leading Venetians and tourists to don high boots and use wooden walkways to cross St Mark's Square and other areas under water. -- PHOTO: AP
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A man runs in a flooded street during a 'acqua alta' on Nov 11, 2012 in Venice. Rain and wind hit the north of Italy on Sunday and the flooding reached 150cm in Venice. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A shoes seller displays wellies outside his shop in a flooded street during a 'acqua alta' on Nov 11, 2012 in Venice. Rain and wind hit the north of Italy on Sunday and the flooding reached 150cm in Venice. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A woman walks on a flooded St Mark's Square during a 'acqua alta' on Nov 11, 2012 in Venice. Rain and wind hit the north of Italy on Sunday and the flooding reached 150cm in Venice. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A man sits in his shop as tourists walk in a flooded street during a 'acqua alta' on Nov 11, 2012 in Venice. Rain and wind hit the north of Italy on Sunday and the flooding reached 150cm in Venice. -- PHOTO: AFP
A tourist crosses flooded St Mark's Square in Venice, Italy, Sunday, Nov 11, 2012. High tides have flooded Venice, leading Venetians and tourists to don high boots and use wooden walkways to cross St Mark's Square and other areas under water. -- PHOTO: AP
People sit at the table of a bar in a flooded St Mark's Square in Venice, Italy, Sunday, Nov 11, 2012. High tides have flooded Venice, leading Venetians and tourists to don high boots and use wooden walkways to cross St Mark's Square and other areas under water. -- PHOTO: AP
A man runs in a flooded street during a 'acqua alta' on Nov 11, 2012 in Venice. Rain and wind hit the north of Italy on Sunday and the flooding reached 150cm in Venice. -- PHOTO: AFP
A shoes seller displays wellies outside his shop in a flooded street during a 'acqua alta' on Nov 11, 2012 in Venice. Rain and wind hit the north of Italy on Sunday and the flooding reached 150cm in Venice. -- PHOTO: AFP
A woman walks on a flooded St Mark's Square during a 'acqua alta' on Nov 11, 2012 in Venice. Rain and wind hit the north of Italy on Sunday and the flooding reached 150cm in Venice. -- PHOTO: AFP
A man sits in his shop as tourists walk in a flooded street during a 'acqua alta' on Nov 11, 2012 in Venice. Rain and wind hit the north of Italy on Sunday and the flooding reached 150cm in Venice. -- PHOTO: AFP
VENICE (AFP) - Floodwaters drenched most of the tourist destination of Venice, leading to the evacuation of 200 people in Tuscany, as bad weather hit northern Italy at the weekend, the authorities said on 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 1.5m above normal before receding slightly, they said.
In Tuscany, around 200 people were evacuated because of heavy rains that 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.
