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ITALY’S VENICE HAS been hit by the highest tide in more than 50 years.
The exceptionally intense high waters peaked at 1.87 metres as the flood alarm sounded across the Italian city of canals last night.
“We’re currently facing an exceptionally high tide. Everyone has been mobilised to cope with the emergency,” Venice’s mayor Luigi Brugnaro tweeted.
In another tweet, Brugnaro called it a “dramatic situation”.
Only once since records began in 1923 has the water crept even higher, reaching 1.94 metres in 1966.
As emergency services took to the canals to survey the damage, Italian media reported that a 78-year old local had been killed by electric shock as the waters poured into his home.
The coast guard laid on extra boats to serve as water ambulances.
Water taxis attempting to drop people off at the hotels along the Grand Canal discovered the gangways had been washed away, and had to help passengers clamber through windows.
“It will be a long night,” Brugnaro tweeted, saying that as the water level began to drop again “the fears of a few hours ago are now being replaced by an assessment of the damage done”.
He said he would declare a state of disaster for the city.
The exceptional flood, which he blamed on climate change, was “a wound that will leave a permanent mark”.
Luigi Brugnaro / Twitter
Luigi Brugnaro / Twitter / Twitter
‘Swimming’
A couple of French tourists caught out said they had “effectively swum” after some of the wooden platforms placed around the city in areas prone to flooding overturned.
Since 2003, a massive infrastructure project has been underway to protect the city, but it has been plagued by cost overruns, scandals and delays.
The plan calls for the construction of 78 floating gates to protect Venice’s lagoon during high tides.
St Mark’s Square is particularly affected by the high tides, as it is located in one of the lowest parts of the city.
The vestibule of the basilica was inundated with water, and authorities planned to watch the building overnight.
One member of St Mark’s council said the scale of the flooding yesterday had only been seen five times in the long history of the basilica, where construction began in 828 and which was rebuilt after a fire in 1063.
Most worryingly, he said, three of those five episodes occurred in the last 20 years, most recently in 2018.
The cultural ministry said it would help fund improvements to the basilica’s flood defences.
Includes reporting by - © AFP 2019
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And these clowns went off and put a price on water and tried to sell it to their own people instead.
Whats next, the introduction of toll charges for walking down the street.
@Adrian: Don’t be giving them ideas!
Just waiting for bike toll booths to be set up in and around dublin city centre ! They are a bunch of Eijits
Adult: 3.10.
Adult with Kid: 4. euros
Adult with Kid with Buggy: 5 euros.
Register and get 50 cents off.
Pay before tomorrow night or else we’ll add on a few 000s.
I can’t believe they’ve allowed the cat out of the bag. Finally the plan for Irelands water is revealed, 30 years in the making.
“buy a few laid up supertankers and ship Irish water where there ain’t”
In hindsight, probably the worst business idea ever.
Pass it on to Irish water
@Alex
We don’t even have to buy the tankers.They come here regularly with crude oil to the refinery.Fill them up with the Ballygowan on their return journey to the Middle East.
@Padraig: Oil distribution developed – water will too – if necessity dictates ! A centralised approach to water is vital – the lack of any business case for the meters is the main issue. HNY all.
Laffin
Loughton, Essex isn’t in London as far as I’m aware
It isn’t. Still, I suppose ‘Londoner’ sounds more catchy for a headline
have your say