Fierce winds and heavy downpours have battered parts of Italy, causing nine deaths and the worst flooding seen in Venice in more than a decade.

Footage captured on October 29 shows St. Mark's Square in Venice completely submerged by flood waters.

Tourists and residents were seen struggling to walk through waist-high water as shopkeepers used buckets to remove the water from their stores.

The filmer writes: ''I had to cross San Marco to go home and everything was completely flooded. At that time the water started to go down but it was still the height of my knees.''

''The wind was very, very strong and you could see local people going home from work, stores owners removing all the water from their places, and tourists trying to get the best picture.''