Venice's much-delayed flood defence system fully tested for first time

Designed in 1984 and expected to be in service a decade ago, the project is still incomplete

Italy has successfully conducted the first full test of Venice's flood defence system, a much-delayed project designed in 1984 but still incomplete a decade after it was due to come into service.

Amid much fanfare, the Italian prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, activated the 78 mobile barriers of the Mose dam on Friday. We're here for a test, not a parade," Conte, who was greeted in Venice by activists who have long protested against the project, told reporters. The government wants to check the progress of the work."