Venice Streets Flood as Near-Record Tides Swamp the City

Streets in Venice, Italy, were submerged on November 12 as tides reached levels not seen since the city’s historic flooding in 1966. The tides, or “acqua alta”, peaked at 1.87 meters (six feet) on Tuesday, seven inches short of the record.

Flood alarms sounded across the city and water taxis delivered hotel guests to their destinations by helping passengers climb through hotel windows, a NDTV report said.

Authorities are stationed at St Mark’s Square to monitor the floodwaters inundating the vestibule of the basilica, the report said. The landmark sits at one of the city’s lowest elevations.

These videos show the flooded streets and, in one, the flood alarms can also be heard. A series of photos posted by the same uploader show the difference in the rapidly rising water levels between 9.50 pm and 10.45 pm.

According to a Forbes report, seasonal flooding in the fall is normal for Venice, but “high-tide data from recent years shows the fingerprints of rising sea levels.” In a statement posted to Twitter, Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said “these are the effects of climate change.” He asked the Italian government for assistance and said tomorrow he will be declaring a state of emergency. Credit: Mario Yebra via Storyful