Venice flooding news – live: Two killed as water approaches record levels and mayor declares city a ‘disaster zone’
Luigi Brugnaro blames ‘climate change’ and warns ‘cost will be high’
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Your support makes all the difference.Venice‘s mayor has called for the city to be declared a disaster zone after the second highest tide ever recorded left 85 per cent of it underwater.
Two people have died in severe flooding, including one man in his 70s who was killed on the barrier island of Pellestrina when he was struck by lightning while using an electric water pump.
Luigi Brugnaro said the flooding was “the result of climate change“ and warned the damage could cost millions of euros.
Francesco Moraglia, the Archbishop of Venice, said St Mark’s Basilica, which has been flooded for the sixth time in 1,200 years, may suffer “irreparable” harm.
The high-water mark hit 187cm (74in) late on Tuesday. The highest level ever recorded was 194cm (76in) during infamous flooding in 1966.
The head of Italy’s transport commission vowed to send lawmakers to Venice to review the long-delayed flood protection barrier system which it is believed could have prevented the high tides.
Construction of the “Mose” system began in 2003 and was set to be completed by 2011, however it is still unfinished and is now predicted to be ready by the end of 2021.
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"The entire city is shut down," tour guide James Hill told The Independent. "Schools, museums and offices closed."
(James Hill)
The overnight surge triggered several fires, including one at the International Gallery of Modern Art Ca' Pesaro, with hundreds of calls to the fire brigade.
Much of Italy has been pummelled by torrential rains in recent days, with widespread flooding, especially in the southern heel and toe of the country.
In Matera, this year's European Capital of Culture, rain water cascaded through the streets and inundated the city's famous cave-dwelling district.
Across the Adriatic Sea, heavy storm and sweeping winds also collapsed caused floods in towns in Croatia and Slovenia.
In the Croatian town of Split, authorities on Wednesday said that the flooding submerged the basement area of the Roman-era Diocletian's Palace where emergency crews battled to pump out the water.
Slovenia's coastal towns of Piran, Izola and Koper reported that sea levels reached the second highest point in the last 50 years.
A second person has died on the island of Pellestrina, bringing the death toll to two.
Floodwaters have inundated the famous St Mark's Basilica, raising fresh concerns over damage to the mosaics and other artworks.
The electrical system at La Fenice theater was deactivated after waters entered the service area, and firefighters brought under control a blaze in the Ca' Pesaro modern art gallery, caused by a short circuit.
Officials said a second exceptional high of 160cm (63in) was recorded at midmorning on Wednesday, but was quickly receding.
The financial cost of the severe flooding is likely to run to hundreds of millions of euros, Mr Brugnaro, the mayor, has said.
Meanwhile, a senior cleric warned the city's historic St Mark's Basilica risked "irreparable" harm.
"The Basilica is suffering structural damage because the water has risen and so it's causing irreparable damage, especially when it dries out in the lower section of the mosaics and tiling," Venice Archbishop Francesco Moraglia told a news conference.
Asked about the likely financial impact, Mr Brugnaro said: "It's in the hundreds of millions of euros."
"Venice is on its knees," Mr Brugnaro, Venice's mayor, said on Twitter. "St Mark's Basilica has sustained serious damage, like the entire city and its islands."
"We are not just talking about calculating the damages, but of the very future of the city" Mr Brugnaro told reporters. "Because the population drain also is a result of this."
Tourists have been seen floating suitcases through St Mark's Square, where officials removed walkways to prevent them from floating away.
The water was so high nothing less than thigh-high boots afforded protection.
Water poured through wooden boards shop and hotel owners have previously placed in front of doors to hold back water during flooding.
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