Record flood in Venice: Italy declares state of emergency

VENICE: Italy declared a state of emergency for Venice late on Thursday after an exceptional tide surged through churches, shops and homes, causing millions of euros worth of damage to the UNESCO city.

Tourists larked around in the flooded St Mark’s Square in the sunshine, snapping selfies in their neon plastic boots and taking advantage of a respite in bad weather which has driven the high tides.

Sirens warning of fresh flooding rang through the canal city early Thursday but the water level remained low compared to Tuesday’s tide, the highest in 50 years. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, who has called the flooding “a blow to the heart of our country”, met Venice’s mayor and emergency services before jumping in a speed boat to visit businesses and locals affected by the massive tide.

Residents whose houses had been hit would immediately get up to 5,000 euros ($5,500) in government aid, while restaurant and shop owners could receive up to 20,000 euros and apply for more later, he said.

Several museums remained closed to the public on Thursday.

AUSTRALIA BUSHFIRES: DEATH TOLL RISES TO 4 BURRELLCREEK:THE death toll from devastating bushfires in eastern Australia has risen to four after a man’s body was discovered in a scorched area of bushland, police said on Thursday.

Three others have perished in bushfires in New South Wales, the state worst affected by a series of catastrophic fires that broke out along the eastern seaboard late last week. More than 100 blazes were burning on Thursday but a respite from tough conditions has seen the danger from many fires downgraded.