Venice was in a state of
crisis on Wednesday due to huge flooding after the high-water
mark reached 187cm late on Tuesday, the highest level since the
record 1966 flood.
"Venice is on its knees," Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said
via Twitter.
"St Mark's Basilica has suffered serious damage, like the
whole city and the islands... We need everyone's help to get
through the next few days that are putting us to the test.".
A 78-year-old man was electrocuted due a short circuit,
apparently linked to the flooding, at his home on the island of
Pellestrina.
Another person also died during the flooding on the lagoon
island, although in his case it may have been natural causes.
There is massive damage.
Brugnaro estimated that the cost ran into several hundred
million euros.
Three barges sank, while gondolas and other boats were
stripped from their moorings.
A fire broke our at the Ca' Pesaro museum because of an
electrical malfunction.
Brugnaro said the council was asking central government to
declare the city to be in a state of emergency and told local
people and businesses to collect photographic and video evidence
of the damage suffered for compensation claims.
"We are faced with total, apocalyptic devastation," Veneto
Governor Luca Zaia told Mediaset television.
"I'm not exaggerating; 80% of the city is under water, the
damage is unimaginable".
Premier Giuseppe Conte is due to arrive in the city to assess
the situation on Wednesday and Zaia said he would stay the
night.
Infrastructure Paola De Micheli is heading to Venice too.
President Sergio Mattarella called Brugnaro and Raffaello De
Ruggieri, the mayor 2019 European Culture Capital Matera, which
was badly hit by flooding on Tuesday.
Venice's La Fenice has been temporarily put out of action
too.
Although the theatre itself is not flooded, water has entered
an auxiliary area affecting the electrical and fire-prevention
systems.
Pierpaolo Campostrini, a member of St. Mark's management
board, said things could have been even worse for the cathedral.
"We came within a whisker of the apocalypse," he said.
"The water got into the basilica, it flooded the floor, broke
windows and entered the crypt.
"It is dangerous, not so much because of what is contained in
there, but because the water could have caused problems for the
columns that hold up the basilica".
The devastation has led to controversy about the fact that
the MOSE flood barrier system, which has been hit by delays and
a corruption scandal, is still not operative.
Environment Minister Sergio Costa linked the situation to the
climate crisis.
The acqua alta came down to around 144cm on Wednesday after
Tuesday's peak.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA