[Kinkade:] You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Lynda Kinkade, welcome back. Well, Venice has endured another day of exceptionally high tides just days after devastating flooding inundated the Italian city. This was the scene in St. Mark's Square again today. Officials closing the iconic plaza ahead of a high tide of 150 centimeters. That is lower than Tuesday's historic flooding, which was 187 centimeters. The worst the city has seen in 50 years. Well, the damage bill is estimated to be more than $1 billion. CNN's Scott McLean joins us now live from Venice. And it's just incredible seeing those pictures there behind you Scott, another high tide. Just take us through what people are saying there about this.
[Scott Mclean, Cnn National Correspondent:] Hey, Lynda, yes, it is been a pretty tough week for Venice. As you said, there was another exceptionally high tide today and this is all the while Venetians are still cleaning up from the last two.
[Mclean:] High tide on Saturday was actually welcome relief for Venetian struggling with the worst flooding in half a century. It filled historic St. Mark's Square but was not enough to do more damage than already done. This cafe opened for the first time since Tuesday's high watermark, sent more than a foot of water inside. Enough to break the dishwasher in the fridge. This waiter told us. We are Venetians. We roll up our sleeves and start working again. Venice is our lady, we will protect her. Meanwhile, at St. Mark's Basilica, the water at the door didn't knock before entering. But it still got their attention.
[Pierpaolo Campostrini, Board Member, St. Mark's Basilica:] We have we have a more than this level of water.
[Mclean:] It's not uncommon for water to enter the outer atrium, even a special drainage system to handle it. But Pierpaolo Campostrini, says it was just the second time there's been significant flooding in the main chamber. 10 centimeters there and another meter in the crypt. The water came and went quickly, but the salt in the water stays in the 900 old walls much longer. Eating away at the marble and a brick near the floor and even on the mosaic ceiling. And that's the damage.
[Campostrini:] And that's the damage there.
[Mclean:] The basilica has survived the centuries of threats but nothing like the one it faces today. It's harder to defend the basilica from the risk of climate change than it is from invading armies.
[Campostrini:] Exactly, and we went to the moon and we should be able also to defend this basilica from the climate changes, and we will.
[Mclean:] Just down the canal, you can still hear the sound of music at one of the most important conservatories in Italy. But the orchestra is being conducted by students and volunteers working to dry out some 50 meters worth of bookshelves that ended up partially submerged. But why were they ever on the ground floor? This could have been easily prevented.
[Campostrini:] And it is the first question. But the father this floor of the of the first floor was not strong enough to keep the weight. So, that's why we had to move them downstairs.
[Mclean:] The most valuable books and manuscripts are being packed up, sent away to be frozen to stop the fragile historic pages from deteriorating. They'll only be thought out when the conservatory has the money to restore them not anytime soon. Back at St. Mark, they're preparing for their first mass in almost a week. Praying the worst has come and gone as they wait for what's forecast to be another exceptionally high tide on Sunday. So, there is still water here in St. Mark's Square, though it should recede over the next couple of hours. There are some high tides expected this week, though they'll be enough to flood this Square, they won't be enough to cause any more damage than has already been done. Now, all of this flooding is quite frustrating for Venetians. You don't have to look hard to find one who will tell you that all of this seems preventable. That's because Italian authorities have been working on a barrier project a hydraulic barrier project that prevent those exceptionally high tides from flooding the city. It's been going on for 15 years now, the problem is it's been plagued by mismanagement and delays and corruption. The current mayor told me yesterday that he understands the frustration of the city. But says this project which is called MOSE is still the city's best hope for the future, Lynda.
[Kinkade:] All right. Scott McLean, good to have you there for us in the flooded city of Venice. We will speak to you again next hour. Thank you. Well, I want to get the latest forecast from meteorologist Allison Chinchar, who joins us now live. Good to see you, Allison. Just explain what people can expect there in the coming days.
[Allison Chinchar, Cnn Meteorologist:] Yes. So, good to see you too. Yes, the good news is the worst of it really has kind of crested at this point. We really should start to see things begin to decrease over the next 24 hours as that storm system finally begins to push itself away from this region. The problem is, there's another system on the heels of that and the question really becomes where do these levels go? Because when you look back at the last week, look at some of these numbers. There is 187 centimeters, that's from last Tuesday when we really hit the peak of this particular event. But you've also had three other where you can see the red color there. That's what we're talking about another very high level. Now, the good news is going forward. We're talking most of these to be between about 95 to 110 centimeters. But keep in mind that still puts them at that very high tide level. Level four out of five. So, again we need to start seeing these numbers coming back down. But Lynda, it may still take several more days before we can finally see those numbers coming back down to where they need to be.
[Kinkade:] Excellent. And Allison, I just want to move on to Australia now. Because, obviously, we continue to see those bushfires right across the East Coast. We there was that major fire in Bundaberg in the state of Queensland. And, of course, furthest south we've been watching that unprecedented number of fires tear across New South Wales. What can you tell us about the conditions that firefighters will be facing?
[Chinchar:] All right. So, the good news is, they really have been able to make big strides in the containment numbers in the past few days. The real big goal is getting them fully contained. The question is can they do that before conditions start to deteriorate in the coming days. For Queensland, we have about 75 wildfires out there right now. In New South Wales, we're looking at about 54 of those bush fires. The concern is going forward. Today and into Monday, the winds are starting to increase but not too high. The real big concern becomes Tuesday, Wednesday, and especially Thursday of this upcoming week. Look at some of these numbers. 50, 60, even 80 kilometers per hour. That's when the real danger really starts to tick in. So, the question becomes can they get those fires fully contained before we start to see those winds increase by the end of the upcoming week? However, in the short term, the big concern is going to be the temperatures. For Sydney and Canberra, again, we're talking about high temperatures, Lynda. 28 in Sydney. The peak will be about 37 on Tuesday. So, they've got very hot conditions and also dry conditions even before the winds begin to increase at the end of the week.
[Kinkade:] 37 that is a hot one. And not even summer yet. Allison Chinchar, good to have you with us. Thanks so much.
[Chinchar:] Thanks.
[Kinkade:] Well, a quick updates on one of our top stories in Hong Kong. Several pro-democracy lawmakers have arrived at the Polytechnic University to mediate between protesters and police. A tense standoff and skirmishes have been going on there for hours. Demonstrators have been hurling bricks and petrol bombs. Police have been responding to tear gas and water cannons. The Polytechnic University officials accuse protesters of stealing dangerous chemicals from labs and damaging the school. Hong Kong police have also fired tear gas, as I mentioned, at protesters at another location in the city as well. Well, the police have been widely criticized for how they've handled the anti-government protests. But firefighters have been applauded for their response. CNN's Will Ripley explains a growing number of firefighters admit that they actually support the protest movement.
[Will Ripley, Cnn International Correspondent:] A Hong Kong firefighter points to his swollen face. Riot police accidentally hit his fire engine with tear gas earlier this month. Tempers flare on both sides. Police pushed the firefighter into a corner before chasing and pepper-spraying a journalist. Police and fire services rushed to issue a joint statement within hours, calling it a misunderstanding. These men say it's more than that.
[Unidentified Male:] The power of police is like unlimited. They can do whatever they like.
[Ripley:] Two Hong Kong firefighters and one paramedic, all not authorized to speak to CNN. They'll only talk if we hide their identities. Can I ask, have any of the three of you ever participated in the protests - you know, covering your own faces?
[Unidentified Male:] Yes.
[Ripley:] Do you think you would be fired for if that ever came out?
[Unidentified Male:] Of course we will get fired.
[Ripley:] They say, many of their colleagues have also joined the protests, ignoring warnings like this.
[Matthew Cheung, Chief Secretary, Hong Kong:] You can't stand against the government, showing a negative image to the public.
[Ripley:] Videos like these show what some consider government-sanctioned police brutality. Skeptics argue they generally lack context about what happened before.
[Unidentified Male:] Police is using excessive violence when they are arresting those young people.
[Ripley:] Can you describe, like, what kind of excessive violence you've personally witnessed?
[Unidentified Male:] When someone is under arrest, and they didn't fight back, they are just lie on the ground, and the police were still beating them. And now it's like a common practice.
[Ripley:] Like every week?
[Unidentified Male:] Oh, it's Like every protest.
[Ripley:] This woman, pepper-sprayed and pushed to the ground. This office worker's head injury said to be from a tear gas canister. A protester shot in the torso with live ammunition. All in the span of two days. Amnesty International accuses Hong Kong police of being out of control.
[Kong Wing-cheung, Senior Superintendent, Hong Kong Police:] I do not agree that our officers is out of control in our use of force. But, of course, we're under great pressure.
[Ripley:] Pressure including violent attacks targeting officers. Hong Kong police sent us this video frontline protesters beating an off-duty cop. The firefighters watching said they tried to help, but were outnumbered. Bricks and petrol bombs are the weapons of choice against police. Others include an improvised explosive device, metal poles, and flaming arrows. This government supporter was even doused with a flammable liquid and set on fire.
[Carrie Lam, Chief Executive Of Hong Kong:] These rioters' act have gone overboard with their demands. And these acts are the enemies of the people.
[Ripley:] Would you dispute the fact that the protesters are also putting lives in danger through their behavior?
[Unidentified Male:] Yes, you're right. Some small group of protesters are putting things in danger. That's undeniable. But for me, I understand what they are doing.
[Ripley:] So, are you saying that you if you had to pick a side, would you side with the protesters over the police as a firefighter?
[Unidentified Male:] Yes, I will side with the protesters.
[Ripley:] Why?
[Unidentified Male:] They are desperate.
[Ripley:] They all say the biggest challenge facing Hong Kong right now is not violence, its lack of trust.
[Unidentified Male:] No one is trusting each other that's why we are hiding our face. People don't trust the government, we don't trust the police, and there's no way back.
[Ripley:] And no way forward for the 70-year-old man hit with a brick and 22-year-old student who fell from a parking garage. Two protest-related deaths in just one week. Will Ripley, CNN.
[Kinkade:] And just moments ago, I want to take you back to Polytechnic University there. You can obviously see water cannons have being deployed against the protesters. Obviously, quite a few spot fires there. Now, that standoff which it's just almost midnight there in Hong Kong. This has been going on for hours tonight as police clash where the protesters there. We're going to keep you updated on this story over the coming hours. So, don't go anywhere. For now, though, we're going to take a quick break. Still to come.
[Emily Maitlis, News Presenter, Bbc:] Are you saying you don't believe her? She's lying.
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