Only a few days after the heavy flooding in Venice, the lagoon city has been flooded again. The flooded St. Mark's Square was closed in order not to endanger the security of the people, as Mayor Luigi Brugnaro announced. This was "a disaster".
Brugnaro called on residents and tourists to be careful: it was "another day of alarm". Especially strong wind carried the water back into the city. Schools were closed as well as the Doge's Palace. Public transport in the UNESCO World Heritage city has been discontinued.
By midmorning, the water rose to 153 centimeters above normal sea level and then retreated, the urban tide office said. Around 70 percent of the historic city is flooded, local media reported. The art exhibition Biennale remained open.
photo gallery
5 pictures
Venice: "Another day of alarm"During the night of Wednesday, Venice's water had risen to its highest level in more than 50 years. It reached a level of 1.87 meters, so that about 80 percent of the city, including St. Mark's Square and the crypt of St. Mark's Cathedral, were under water. Only once since the beginning of the recordings had there been a worse flood: in 1966, the level was 1.94 meters.
After a decline on Thursday, the level rose again on Friday. Mayor Brugnaro said Wednesday alone damages worth one billion euros were incurred. The damage on Friday was not included.
"People have lost everything," Brugnaro wrote on Twitter. The penetrating salt water makes everything even more difficult. It damages monuments, marbles and art treasures considerably more. "It is a challenge for the whole country, the Venetians do not weep for themselves, they work, we are proud to keep the young people here and give them a future."
more on the subject
The government in Rome had declared a state of emergency for Venice on Thursday and released 20 million euros in emergency aid. Also ex-Interior Minister Matteo Salvini from the right leg stomped on Friday in rubber boots through the city and urged that finally a flood protection system must be completed.
For years, there has been a dispute over the system called Moses, which was supposed to exist for years on the Adriatic. Bureaucracy, corruption and scandals are delaying the construction, however. The extendable barriers should now be finished in 2021. Global warming causes sea levels to rise, causing flooding in Venice.
Around 50,000 people live in Venice. With its picturesque canals and historic buildings, the city attracts annually 36 million tourists from all over the world.
