A quarter of Venice is submerged under floodwaters as city is hit by near-record tides just two days after Italy reopened to tourists

  • A quarter of Venice was flooded overnight after near-record high tides struck 
  • Iconic St Mark's Square was submerged as water flowed down paved streets  
  • Comes just two days after Italy opened borders to tourists following lockdown
  • City was also hit by major floods three times in 2019, causing billions in damage 
  • Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

A quarter of Venice has been submerged by a near-record high tide for June, at a time of year when such flooding is rare.

The lagoon city's iconic St Mark's Square was pictured underwater on Thursday night, as a handful of visitors splashed about in the rain.

The flooding comes just two days after Italy reopened its borders to tourists in an attempt to salvage its summer season following coronavirus lockdown.

It also comes after Venice was hit by flooding three times last year - twice in November and once in December - causing billions in damage. 

Venice was hit by near-record June tides overnight along with heavy rains, turning some of its usually-paved streets into rivers

Venice was hit by near-record June tides overnight along with heavy rains, turning some of its usually-paved streets into rivers

Iconic St Mark's Square was left underwater on Thursday night, with a handful of visitors splashing across its paved interior

Iconic St Mark's Square was left underwater on Thursday night, with a handful of visitors splashing across its paved interior

A couple of visitors who removed their shoes after getting soaked sit at a cafe table in St Mark's Square after the city was hit by flooding

A couple of visitors who removed their shoes after getting soaked sit at a cafe table in St Mark's Square after the city was hit by flooding

Italy, like most European countries, are desperately trying to restart their lucrative tourism industries even amidst the coronavirus pandemic in an attempt to save jobs.

Officials in Venice said the water level reached 116cm - 3ft 10ins - late Thursday, the third-highest mark for June.

That level indicates that around a quarter of Venice has been flooded.

Venice's sea monitoring agency blamed the unusually high late spring tide on a storm in the Atlantic that brought heavy winds and rain to northern Italy.

Another unseasonably high tide is expected on Friday night.

The highest June high tide was registered in 2002, when the water mark hit 121 centimetres, followed by 117 centimetres in June of 2016.

Venice authorities on Friday did not put out pedestrian bridges, which are usually only used in the peak 'acqua alta' season from September to April.

Venice and the rest of Italy are still closed to cruise ships but Italy relaxed travel restrictions for Italians and most Europeans on Wednesday.

The exterior of St Mark's Basilica, in St Mark's Square, is seen underwater late Thursday after near-record spring tides caused flooding

The exterior of St Mark's Basilica, in St Mark's Square, is seen underwater late Thursday after near-record spring tides caused flooding

The flooding comes just two days after Italy reopened its borders to tourists and allowed people to move around the country freely as lockdown eases

The flooding comes just two days after Italy reopened its borders to tourists and allowed people to move around the country freely as lockdown eases

Venice saw tides of almost 4ft overnight, marking the third-highest on record for June, which forecasters said was caused by a storm in the Atlantic

Venice saw tides of almost 4ft overnight, marking the third-highest on record for June, which forecasters said was caused by a storm in the Atlantic

Europe could have its free travel zone up and running again by the end of the month, but travelers from further afield will not be allowed in before July, European Union Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said Friday after talks among the bloc's interior ministers.

Panicked by the coronavirus outbreak in Italy in February, countries in the 26-nation Schengen area - where people and goods move freely without checks - imposed border restrictions without consulting their neighbors to try to keep the disease out. The moves caused traffic jams and blocked medical equipment.

Free movement is a jewel in Europe's crown which helps business flourish, and many European officials feared that the very future of the Schengen area was at threat from the restrictions. These added to pressures already caused by the arrival in Europe of well over 1 million migrants in 2015.

'I personally believe that we will return to a full functioning of the Schengen area and freedom of movement of citizens no later than the end of the month of June,' Johansson told reporters after the video-conference meeting.

Thursday night's flooding comes after Venice was flooded three times at the end of last year, causing billions in damage (pictured, St Mark's Square)

Thursday night's flooding comes after Venice was flooded three times at the end of last year, causing billions in damage (pictured, St Mark's Square)

People splash down a shopping street in Venice after unusually high tides left a quarter of the city underwater

People splash down a shopping street in Venice after unusually high tides left a quarter of the city underwater

She said Europe's Centre for Disease Prevention and Control believes that confinement and other health measures are working. The center says that more than 168,000 people have been killed by the coronavirus in Europe, mostly in Britain, Italy, France and Spain.

'Physical distancing and other health-related measures are still needed, of course. But health authorities are clear that there is no long a clear justification for either travel restrictions or border measures within the EU Schengen area,' Johansson said.

The news should come as a relief to millions of Europeans still trying to work out their summer vacation plans - which begin for many in July once the school year is over - and are anxious to know whether they will be allowed to head to beaches on the Mediterranean or into the mountains.

All but essential travel into Europe from outside is restricted until June 15, but many ministers suggested that they want this deadline extended until early July, Johansson said.