Italy declares state of emergency after 'apocalyptic' Venice floods

Italy will today declare a state of emergency after floods brought carnage to Venice, flooding its historic basilica and leaving 'widespread devastation' in the city, the Daily Mail reports. 

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte described the flooding as 'a blow to the heart of our country' as he inspected the damage in Venice last night. 

At a cabinet meeting today, the government in Rome is expected to take on 'exceptional powers' to respond to the near-record floods. 

Conte has also offered emergency funds after Venice authorities said the damage ran to hundreds of millions of pounds, including millions in St Mark's Basilica alone.

Venice archbishop Francesco Moraglia said the church had suffered 'irreparable damage' and the crypt was flooded for just the second time in its history. 

Last night the waters in St Mark's Square had receded to puddles, but only a handful of tourists were crossing the plaza on Wednesday evening.  

The basilica was closed to tourists as were many other Venice highlights including the Fenice Theatre and the Ducal Palace. Schools will also stay closed today. 

Four Venetian friends who had gathered in the square, all wearing boots, said the relative quiet and lack of tourists was upside of an otherwise harrowing few days.

‟We've never seen anything like it,″ said Alvise, 19. 

‟The disaster that has struck Venice is a blow to the heart of our country,″ prime minister Conte said at the scene of the flooding last night.

″The situation is dramatic... the people are suffering. It hurts to see the city so damaged, its artistic heritage threatened. ″