Venice faces MORE floods and fierce winds after suffering 1billion euros of damage when high tide swamped the city of canals

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Venice was on alert for more floods and fierce winds on Saturday after an exceptionally high tide swamped the city of canals, where authorities have declared a state of emergency.

Mayor Luigi Brugnaro ordered the iconic St Mark's Square closed on Friday as the latest sea surge struck with strong storms and winds battering the region.

The square was open again on Saturday, but the city forecast a high water of 160cm (over five feet) for Sunday, lower than Tuesday's high of 187cm but still dangerous.

Venice was on alert for more floods and fierce winds on Saturday (pictured) after an exceptionally high tide swamped the city of canals, where authorities have declared a state of emergency

Some play in the high water levels while others wade through the waves wearing plastic-covered boots on Saturday

Mayor Luigi Brugnaro ordered the iconic St Mark's Square (pictured, Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumm today) closed on Friday as the latest sea surge struck with strong storms and winds battering the region

The square was open again on Saturday, but the city forecast a high water of 160cm (over five feet) for Sunday, lower than Tuesday's high of 187cm but still dangerous. Pictured: Volunteers clean houses and help to bring out the broken possessions in Pellestrina, one of the worst affected islands

Civil protection authorities downgraded a weather 'red alert' for the Venice region to orange, with Saturday's midday high forecast to be a manageable 105cm

Churches, shops and homes (pictured) in the city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, have been inundated by unusually intense 'acqua alta', or high water, which on Tuesday hit its highest level in half a century

'We've destroyed Venice, we're talking about one billion (euros) in damage,' Brugnaro said. Pictured: Gianluca Vialli in St Mark's Square today

Tourists (pictured) walks in St Mark square on Saturday, three days after the city suffered the highest tide in 50 years

Civil protection authorities downgraded a weather 'red alert' for the Venice region to orange, with Saturday's midday high forecast to be a manageable 105cm.

Churches, shops and homes in the city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, have been inundated by unusually intense 'acqua alta', or high water, which on Tuesday hit its highest level in half a century.

'We've destroyed Venice, we're talking about one billion (euros) in damage,' Brugnaro said.

The Italian football team travelled to Venice on Saturday to show solidarity with the stricken city.

'On behalf of the whole team, we stand close to the city of Venice,' said Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Pictured left to right: Prefect of Venice Vittorio Zappalorto, Italian Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese, Italian Senate Speaker Elisabetta Casellati and Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro in St Mark's square to inspect damage caused by the bad weather

The crisis (pictured on Saturday) has prompted the government to release 20 million euros ($22 million) in funds to tackle the devastation

People walk in a street in Venice on Saturday with clothes hanging out to dry amid torrid weather on the island

A volunteer helps residents to clean the houses and to bring out the broken things in Pellestrina, one of the worst affected islands

The Italian football federation delegation visited several businesses damaged by the flooding, and chatted with Venetians, volunteers and police.

'Venice will overcome this too. Like an athlete who suffers a serious injury and then gets up again,' said delegation chief and former Azzurri international Gianluca Vialli.

The crisis has prompted the government to release 20 million euros ($22 million) in funds to tackle the devastation.

Surveying the damage, Culture Minister Dario Franceschini warned the task of repairing the city would be huge. More than 50 churches had suffered damage, he said. 

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte declared a state of emergency for the city on Thursday.

Surveying the damage, Culture Minister Dario Franceschini warned the task of repairing the city would be huge. More than 50 churches had suffered damage, he said

Residents (pictured) whose houses have been hit are eligible for up to 5,000 euros in immediate government aid, while restaurant and shop owners can receive up to 20,000 euros and apply for more later

Mayor Brugnaro on Friday also announced the opening of a fund where people in Italy and around the world could contribute to the historic city's repair. Pictured: Broken items left outside houses on the island

Residents whose houses have been hit are eligible for up to 5,000 euros in immediate government aid, while restaurant and shop owners can receive up to 20,000 euros and apply for more later.

Mayor Brugnaro on Friday also announced the opening of a fund where people in Italy and around the world could contribute to the historic city's repair.

One tourist, Italian Nicole Righetti, said she would be willing to pitch in.

'It would be a shame to no longer be able to see these places, and I think everyone should give,' Righetti said.

Most of the city's cash machines were no longer working because of the water, making life even more difficult for tourists and Venetians.

Most of the city's cash machines were no longer working because of the water, making life even more difficult for tourists and Venetians

AC Milan's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma wades through the deep water in St Mark square on Saturday

Despite being used to the inconvenience of their city's rising waters, some inhabitants expressed frustration.

'All the stock in the basement is lost,' lamented Luciano, a worker at a shop along St Mark's Square.

He said he remembered well the infamous 'acqua alta' of 1966, when the water rose to a level of 1.94 metres, the highest since records began in 1923.

'These so frequent high waters have never happened before... this time there's so much more damage than in the past,' he said.

Hotels reported cancelled reservations, some as far ahead as December, following the widespread diffusion of images of Venice underwater.

Tuesday's high waters submerged around 80 percent of the city, officials said.

Many, including Venice's mayor, have blamed the disaster on global warming and warned that the country prone to natural disasters must wake up to the risks posed by ever more volatile seasons.

The Serenissima, as the floating city is called, is home to 50,000 residents but receives 36 million visitors each year.

A massive infrastructure project called MOSE has been under way since 2003 to protect the city, but it has been plagued by cost overruns, corruption scandals and delays.