1.
GV FLOODED AREA SUBMERGED HOUSES
0.09

2.
SV SUBMERGED TREES AND HOUSES
0.13

3.
SV WINDOWS OF HOUSES NEARLY SUBMERGED
0.17

4.
CU CAFE SIGN AND ENTRANCE TO CAFE
0.22

5.
GV SUBMERGED HOUSES
0.27

6.
SV PEOPLE IN BOAT
0.30

7.
GV PAN. STREET AND HOUSES FLOODED
0.38

8.
SV BOAT RESCUE OPERATIONS
0.44

9.
LV HOUSE SHOWING RISING WATER
0.47

10.
TRAVEL SHOT SUBMERGED TREES
0.52

11.
SV PEOPLE PASSING IN BOAT
0.55

12.
SV MEN SALVAGING BELONGINGS FROM HOUSE
0.59

13.
CU MAN HANDING OUT BEDDING FROM WINDOW
1.04

14.
SV COT HANDED TO MEN IN BOAT
1.07

15.
SV BED FRAME PUT INTO SALVAGE BOAT
1.11

16.
CU BICYCLE INTO BOAT
1.16

17.
STV STACKING SALVAGE BOAT WITH BELONGINGS
1.19

18.
SV TRAVEL SHOT SALVAGE BOAT UNDERWAY
1.23

19.
SHOT FROM BOAT FLOODED - AREA
1.27

20.
LV ANOTHER RESCUE BOAT PASSING
1.31



Initials JRG/V/JH/PC



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: ABOUT TWO-THIRD OF THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE PO DELTA IN ITALY IS NOW UNDER SEA WATER UP TO 9 FEET (3 METRES) DEEP. THE WATER COVERS SOME OF THE BEST GRAIN-GROWING LAND IN THE COUNTRY.

OF THE 12,000 INHABITANTS OF THE REGION, 10,000 HAVE NOW BEEN EVACUATED. POLICE AND SOLDIERS ARE ACTIVE IN BOATS, SALVAGING BELONGINGS FROM UPSTAIRS ROOMS.

MEANWHILE THE WORK OF BUILDING A DYKE TO SAVE THE LAST FEW SQUARE MILES OF THE SOUTHERN PO DELTA FROM INUNDATION BY THE SEA GOES ON UNABATED. THE DYKE MIGHT HOLD OFF THE ENCROACHING WATER, IF THE FIERCE ADRIATIC WIND, THE BORA, STAYS QUIET. BUT IF IT RISES AGAIN, GANGS OF WORKERS WILL BE EVACUATED TOO BY AN AMPHIBIOUS REGIMENT STANDING BY AT THE DYKE.

OTHER GANGS OF MEN ARE WORKING FROM BOATS TO TRY TO REPAIR THE BREACH IN THE MAIN DYKE MADE N THE STORMS OF TWO WEEKS AGO. THE SEA, NOW AT HIGH TIDE, EBBS AND FLOODS POWERFULLY THROUGH THE BREACH. MUCH OF THE FARMLAND INSIDE THE DYKE IS BELOW SEA-LEVEL.