Tourists and residents struggle through thigh-deep waters submerging Venice.<br/> <br />About 70 percent of the canal city is covered in floodwaters after heavy rain swamped Italy over the weekend.<br/> <br />This is reported to be the island city's sixth flood of this magnitude since 1872.<br/> <br />Piazza San Marco, the heart of the popular tourist destination, was deserted and café tables were almost completely underwater.<br/> <br />Many shops and buildings are closed and the water was expected to recede only slightly throughout the day.
