Venice was almost completely flooded on Monday, with rain-soaked tourists evacuated from St Mark's Square as fierce storms lashed Italy. Water transport services were halted across Venice as 75 per cent of the city centre flooded to 156cm (61inc) by early afternoon, the highest level since 2012. Residents and visitors were wading through waist-high water in St Mark's Square before the mayor gave orders to evacuate the area. Police wearing hip waders carried a number of children to safety as stranded tourists waited to be ferried to higher ground.