Venice is suffering its worst flooding in decades, with the mayor of the Italian city blaming the “apocalyptic” levels on climate change.
The tide peaked at 6.14 feet shortly before midnight, inundating the lagoon city and prompting Mayor Luigi Brugnaro to declare a state of emergency Wednesday.
“Venice is on its knees,” said Brugnaro. “The damage will run into hundreds of millions of euros.”
“This is the result of climate change,” he said on Twitter.
Water poured into the crypt beneath St. Mark’s Basilica for only the second time in history, while tourists floated suitcases through St. Mark’s Square and those staying on the ground floor of hotels were forced to relocate to upper floors.
Damage also was reported at the Ca’ Pesaro modern-art gallery, where a short circuit sparked a fire, and at the La Fenice theater. Authorities turned off electricity there as a precaution after the control room flooded, and concerts were canceled Wednesday and Thursday nights.
It’s the second-highest flood level ever recorded in the city, after only the historic 1966 deluge, when the water level was 2¹/₂ inches higher than it was on Wednesday.
This flood was compounded by heavy rains coinciding with a full moon that brought high tides that were pushed into Venice by southerly winds.
One person, a man in his 70s, was killed in the flooding on the barrier island of Pellestrina. An official there said the victim was electrocuted when he tried to start a pump in his home.
Venice’s well-documented sinking, as well as rising sea levels because of climate change, have made the city built on canals particularly vulnerable. The average sea level there is four inches higher than it was 50 years ago, according to the city’s tide office.
Brugnaro said the damage was catastrophic in more ways than one.
“We are not just talking about calculating the damages, but of the very future of the city,” he told reporters. “Because the population drain also is a result of this.”
The mayor called for the speedy completion of a long-delayed project to construct moveable, offshore barriers called “Moses” meant to limit flooding.
The project has been opposed by environmentalists concerned about damaging the delicate lagoon ecosystem. It’s also been plagued by ballooning costs and corruption scandals.
Luca Zaia, governor of the Veneto region, said the barriers are nearly complete. But it wasn’t clear if they’d work against such flooding.
“Despite 5 billion euros under water, St. Mark’s Square certainly wouldn’t be secure,’’ Zaia said, referring to one of Venice’s lowest points, which floods when there is an inundation of 2.6 feet.
With Wires