Death toll in Italy storms and flooding rises to 17

The death toll in Italy has risen to 17 after a week of severe weather and flooding across the country, according to Italy's Civil Protection Agency.

The onslaught of strong wind and heavy rain over the past week devastated parts of Italy and led to the worst flooding Venice has seen in at least a decade. In the northern region of Veneto, damage estimates have reached over one billion euros, and several villages have been cut off as a result of landslides.The severe weather also wrought havoc on the environment, with dozens of hectares of forestry -- including the famous 'Violin Forest' -- decimated after winds reached up to 190 kilometers per hour (118 mph).