These are the worst floods to hit the city in more than 50 years. The mayor has blamed climate change and pleaded for government assistance as the city braces for a second day of high water.

Venice called a state of emergency after severe floods swamped its historic basilica and left many of its squares and alleyways inundated with water.

Flood levels were the second-highest ever recorded, peaking at 187 centimeters (74 inches), just shy of the 194 centimeters recorded in 1966.

One man died overnight, electrocuted as he operated an electric pump on Pellestrina, one of the many islands in the Venetian lagoon, according to the fire brigade.