Climate change is affecting cities all around the world. Italy's canal city of Venice is no exception. Recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site for its extraordinary architecture, Venice was evacuated in late October when parts of the city were submerged in more than 5 meters of water. High tides and strong winds caused the city's most severe flooding for a decade. Now experts are saying if climate change isn't properly addressed, the popular tourist location will disappear. From Venice, Natalie Carney has more.

"The water came to here."

It hasn't been since 2008 that water in Venice's historic Piazza San Marco has reached the level it did on October 29th. Three-quarters of the lagoon city was submerged, forcing shops to close while tourists and residents went running for high ground.

CLAUDIO VERNIER PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION PIAZZA SAN MARCO "The water not only enters but also pushes up from down below because we know that Venice is built over the water. In addition, the salt that is contained in the sea water destroys materials very slowly."

According to meteorological conditions, this was the second worst flood to have ever hit the city and it's causing experts to fear the very existence of Venice by the end of the century unless serious action is taken against climate change.

GEORG UNGIESSER, SENIOR RESEARCHER INSTITUTE OF MARINE SCIENCE "It is terrible for Venice because Vince is living only 80 centimeters above the sea level so if you have, let's say 50 centimeters which is higher, every tide would give you high water the shops are flooded, people cannot walk around anymore, the mosaics of Saint Mark's Basilica are flooded. It would be terrible."

Venice's cultural heritage is the most at risk. Built over eleven hundred years ago, Saint Mark's Basilica sits at the city's lowest point and sees high water levels up to 180 times a year.

PROFESSOR MARIO PIANA VENICE UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURE "There are some materials that easily degrade due to the salt crystallization on the surface. The salt water has led to oxidation, the oxidation increases the volume of the metal and severely fractures the column."

Venice is one of the most vulnerable places in Europe to environmental changes, as the Adriatic Sea courses through the city's canals.

NATALIE CARNEY VENICE, ITALY "For years, city officials have been working to erect flood barriers to withstand the storms, one of the most complex and largest civil engineering projects ever attempted, yet this multi-billion dollar initiative is nowhere near completion, nor will it result in any long-term solutions."

The Mose is an integrated system of mobile gates that are able to isolate the Venetian lagoon temporarily. Yet the project, which began in 2003, has been marred with corruption.

GEORG UNGIESSER, SENIOR RESEARCHER INSTITUTE OF MARINE SCIENCE "If you have sea level rise the Mose has to be closed every day. So if you have to close the Mose every day it's useless because there is no water exchange anymore, ships can't come in anymore, you have to think about something different."

Reoccurring weather events are becoming more common and much more deadly. Twenty-nine people were killed by recent floods and heavy winds in other parts of the country.

Italy's finance minister predicts the country's flood damage will cost around 0.2% of economic output yet another blow to a country currently under threat of sanctions for an inflated budget.

Natalie Carney CGTN, Venice, Italy.