Venice's flood defence system has been activated after it failed to engage a day earlier as storms continued to lash large parts of Italy.
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The MOSE defence system was not operational when water levels in Venice reached a high of 138 centimetres on Tuesday afternoon, but it was finally starting to work around 3am on Wednesday, ANSA cited sources as saying.
Floodwaters struck Venice on Tuesday, submerging some of its most famous sites including St Mark's Square.
The system only had its first run earlier this year, when it protected the city from flooding in October.
It was not clear why MOSE wasn't operating on Tuesday. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro had only just praised it on Sunday for its effectiveness amid the heavy rains. He also noted that it had held back two tides since Sunday.
The feared high water level for the city meant that Venice was facing an alarm level of orange. Weather forecasts predict water levels could hit 125cm on Wednesday, 135cm on Thursday and 140cm on Friday.
Luca Zaia, the president of the surrounding region of Veneto, said damages might amount to 500 million euros.
The risk of landslides and avalanches remains high across Italy after recent heavy rains and snowfall, with the province of Bolzano in the north-eastern area of South Tyrol and the southern region of Campania on red alert, emergency officials said.
Australian Associated Press
