Historic venice canals reduced to muddy ditches by severe low tides

It is longest water levels have remained so low in Venetian lagoon for at least 15 years

Low tides in Venice have seen the city’s iconic canals dry up, amid fears Italy could face another drought.

Current water levels are making it impossible for gondolas, water taxis and ambulances to navigate parts of the city, also disrupting the annual carnival which last year drew around 100,000 revellers to Venice.

It is at least 15 years since water levels spent so long languishing more than 50cm below the typical average, the head of Venice’s tide centre Alvise Papa said.