ITALY - Venice was swamped by flood waters on Tuesday, as it experienced the second highest tide in its history. Iconic city submerged by worst floods in 50 years as disaster declared. City officials said the tide peaked at 6.14ft at 10.50 pm, just short of the record 6.4ft set in 1966. The city’s mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, declared a state of disaster and warned of severe damage. He tweeted that “it will be a long night”, and compared the flood to “a wound that will leave a permanent mark.” Italy has been gripped by a powerful weather front that has brought torrential rain to all parts of the country, especially in the south.