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Venice called a state of emergency after the second-highest tide recorded on Tuesday flooded its historic basilica and left many of its squares and alleyways inundated with water.
Levels of 100-120 cm above sea level are fairly common in the lagoon city and Venice is well-equipped to cope with its rafts of pontoon walkways. Anything much above 120cm risks swamping much of the city. In southern Italy, meanwhile, schools were closed in Matera and the nearby town of Metaponto was hit by a tornado.
epa07990545 A man carries a woman through floodwaters on Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square) in Venice, Italy, 12 November 2019. The high tide has already reached the level of 1 meter above sea level in Venice at 8 am. EPA-EFE/ANDREA MEROLA
epa07990547 A delivery man with his cart wades through floodwaters in Venice, Italy, 12 November 2019. The high tide has already reached the level of 1 meter above sea level in Venice at 8 am. EPA-EFE/ANDREA MEROLA
epa07990605 People wade through floodwaters in Venice, Italy, 12 November 2019. The high tide has already reached the level of 1 meter above sea level in Venice at 8 am. EPA-EFE/ANDREA MEROLA
epa07990702 People walk on benches through floodwaters in Venice, Italy, 12 November 2019. The high tide has already reached the level of 1 meter above sea level in Venice at 8 am. EPA-EFE/ANDREA MEROLA
epa07991910 General view of the extreme floodwaters in Venice, Italy, 12 November 2019. The high tide has already reached the level of 1,87 meter above sea level. EPA-EFE/ANDREA MEROLA BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE
epa07991913 General view of the extreme floodwaters in Venice, Italy, 12 November 2019. The high tide has already reached the level of 1,87 meter above sea level. EPA-EFE/ANDREA MEROLA BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE
epa07991918 A waterbus is grounded by extreme floodwaters in Venice, Italy, 12 November 2019. The high tide has already reached the level of 1,87 meter above sea level. EPA-EFE/ANDREA MEROLA BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE
epa07991917 General view of the extreme floodwaters) in Venice, Italy, 12 November 2019. The high tide has already reached the level of 1,87 meter above sea level. EPA-EFE/ANDREA MEROLA BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE
epa07991919 General view of the extreme floodwaters) in Venice, Italy, 12 November 2019. The high tide has already reached the level of 1,87 meter above sea level. EPA-EFE/ANDREA MEROLA BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE
epa07991920 A waterbus is grounded by extreme floodwaters in Venice, Italy, 12 November 2019. The high tide has already reached the level of 1,87 meter above sea level. EPA-EFE/ANDREA MEROLA BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE
epa07991922 The extreme floodwaters at Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square) in Venice, Italy, 12 November 2019. The high tide has already reached the level of 1,87 meter above sea level. EPA-EFE/ANDREA MEROLA BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE
epaselect epa07991921 The extreme floodwaters at Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square) in Venice, Italy, 12 November 2019. The high tide has already reached the level of 1,87 meter above sea level. EPA-EFE/ANDREA MEROLA BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE
“The situation is dramatic,” Brugnaro said on Twitter. “We ask the government to help us. The cost will be high. This is the result of climate change.”
He added: “A high tide of 187 centimeters is going to leave an indelible wound.”
The wave of bad weather that has hit much of Italy saw acqua alta reach 1.27 metres in Venice on Tuesday, with much of the city swamped and the narthex of St Mark’s Basilica flooded.
Gale-force winds and torrential rain is also a big problem in Calabria, where the gusts reached 113 kmph and Puglia.
Via ANSA / DW / Twitter
