CNN News:威尼斯遭50年一遇洪灾侵袭 水城进入紧急状态

Meanwhile in the story of Italian city Venice, it's a high tide that's being blamed for unusually high amounts of flooding and there's rain in the forecast. At least 45 percent of the city and some observers say as much as 80 percent of it was flooded on Tuesday. The tide turned Venice's lowest point, St. Mark's Square into what looks like a swimming pool. Venice is built on a lagoon. It's no stranger to flooding. Tides that cause water rises like this are known as Acqua alta in Italian and they usually occur in winter time.

But the one that washed in on Tuesday night was more than 73 inches high, that's over six feet and it caused the worst flooding the city has seen since 1966 when a tide of more than 76 inches was recorded. Local officials have asked for a state of emergency to be declared. Venice's mayor called the tide a wound that would leave a permanent mark on the city. He says the damage would cost hundreds of millions of euros and officials say the weather doesn't look like it's going to help at all. More rain and strong winds are expected over the next few days setting the scene for another possible high tide.