Due to the devastating floods in Venice, leading cruise association CLIA has announced that no cruise ships are stopping at the ancient city and have been rerouted to nearby terminals.

A CLIA spokesman has issued the following statement: “No ships are calling at Venice and have been diverted to either Ravenna or Trieste. No ships are expected to call in Venice before 21 November.

Astonishing photos capture the city as 85 per cent of it is flooded https://t.co/VgX8W1Gz2r

— Evening Standard (@standardnews) November 13, 2019

“The terminal is open and being used as a transfer point for passengers if needed. The terminal operator has also opened the terminal as a shelter to people made homeless by the floods.”

The region has seen the highest levels water levels in more than 50 years (reaching 1.87m high), with much of the popular cruise destination and its historic basilica having been left underwater.

Shops, businesses, restaurants and tourist spots have all been seriously affected. Five ferries serving as water buses have also been badly damaged.

Along with destruction to the city, two people have died on the island of Pellestrina, a thin strip of land separating the Venetian lagoon from the Adriatic Sea.

I danni alla città sono ingenti.
Invitiamo cittadini e imprese a raccogliere materiale utile a dimostrare danni subiti: foto, video, documenti e altro. Comunicheremo le modalità per inoltrare la richiesta di contributo.
Info: https://t.co/SzLWTGi5XM pic.twitter.com/7CdtYptB0P

— Luigi Brugnaro (@LuigiBrugnaro) November 13, 2019

Today, Italy will declare a state of emergency, with prime minister Giuseppe Conte having described the floods as “a blow to the heart of our country” as he assessed the state of the damage.

Emergency funds have been issued after Venice authorities have said the damage will run to hundreds of millions of pounds.

Mayor Luigi Brugnar0 has blamed climate change for the floods, tweeting: “Now the government must listen,” he said. “These are the effects of climate change… the costs will be high.”

Leading travel association ABTA has issued advice to tour operators and tourists following the news of the floods, and will be updating its members as it continues to monitor the situation.

Earlier this year, large cruise ships were banned from entering the Venice canal and will instead be rerouted to nearby terminals.

This article will be updated.