Three-quarters of Venice flooded by exceptional high tide

Venice has been inundated by an exceptional high tide which put three-quarters of the lagoon city under water. Large swathes of the rest of Italy have also experienced flooding and heavy winds which toppled trees, killing four people. Venice flooded by high tide – in pictures Read more Tourists and residents donned high boots to navigate the streets on Monday after strong winds raised the water level 156cm – more than 5 feet – before receding. Water levels exceeded the raised walkways normally erected in flooded areas of the city, forcing their removal. Transport officials also closed the water-bus system, except to outlying islands, due to the emergency. Venice frequently floods when high winds push in water from the lagoon but Monday was exceptional, with levels peaking at the highest seen since December 2008, according to statistics. The mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, said a series of underwater barriers being erected in the lagoon would have prevented the situation. The project, nicknamed Moses, is long overdue, having been beset by cost overruns and corruption scandals. Brugnaro said he had asked to talk to Italy’s prime minster, Giuseppe Conte, to underline the urgency of the project, which would raise barriers when the tide reaches 109cm (43 inches). That happens, on average, four times a year in Venice.