Venice is experiencing devastating levels of flooding, with homes, boats, and businesses all impacted by rising tide levels. Now the historic St Mark’s Square or Piazza San Marco has closed due to the amount of water flooding into the area.
Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said on Twitter: “Another day of alert for Venice. The sirocco wind keeps blowing.
“I invite all … to keep yourselves updated on the level of the water.”
He later tweeted to say St Mark’s Square was closed, as flooding reached extreme levels.
Tide forecast centre CPSM Venezia said water levels were due to peak at 11.20 am local time (10.20 GMT) on Friday, before easing to 3.5 to 3.9 feet during the weekend.
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However, the level of flooding seen this year is the worst since 1966, and are being blamed on climate change and environmental shifting.
A flood barrier costing £5 billion was ordered in 1993, and work begun in 2003 however it will not be ready until 2021.
There is anger among locals as the flood defence has taken so long to build parts have already rusted, which in turn will cost £30 million to repair.
The system – known as Mose after the biblical figure Moses – consists of more than 90 hinged steel gates at the mouth of the lagoon.
The national government declared a state of emergency for Venice on Thursday and allocated an initial €20 million (£17.12 million) to address the immediate damage.
Venetian mayor Brugnaro said on Thursday the city was “on its knees” and blamed climate change for the high water levels.
He said: ”There’s widespread devastation. In all likelihood, the damage runs into the hundreds of millions of euros.”
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the government will hold an extraordinary meeting on November 26 to discuss “governance and the structural problems of the city.”