In Italy, eleven people were killed in the fierce storms as wild weather swept parts of Europe, leaving motorists and tourists stranded. In Italy, where Venice was inundated by near-record flooding and ferocious storms drove high winds reaching up to 180 kilometres (110 miles) an hour, authorities announced a further six deaths, after confirming five people had died yesterday. <br />'' <br />''Authorities today reported a woman died when her home was engulfed by a mudslide in the northern region of Trentino, a man was killed in the northeastern Veneto region by a falling tree, and a firefighter died during relief operations in South Tyrol.<br />'' <br />''Italian media reported that around 170 people, tourists and hotel staff, were stranded by heavy snowfall at the Stelvio Pass on the Swiss border.<br />''Meanwhile in Friuli Venezia Giulia, local authorities said some 23,000 people were without power.<br />''<br />''<br />''Italy's canal city of Venice was swamped as heavy rainfall pushed the water levels to near record levels yesterday.<br />'' <br />''<span style="color: #222222;">Road were blocked and thousands of people were left without power in southern and central Europe, as rains and violent winds sparked flooding and tore trees from their roots.</span><br />