The city’s weather forecast centre has warned the tide could reach 160cm (5.25 feet) just after midday tomorrow. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro told a press conference on Saturday: “It will be a tough day tomorrow, but we are ready.” Mr Brugnaro, who has been appointed as the special commissioner to deal with the emergency, said he had received offers of support from the European Union, adding the European Investment Bank could grant special loans for repairs.
Venice endured its worst flooding in 50 years on Tuesday when the tide peaked at 187cm (6.14ft) at 9.50pm – just short of the record 194cm (6.3ft) set in 1966.
The flooding has caused more than $1billion worth of damage, submerging the famous St Mary’s Square under several feet of water.
On Thursday, the Italian Government declared a state of emergency for Venice, after the deadly floods brought “widespread devastation” to to its historic basilica, with the city’s Mayor warning the city is “on its knees”.
It said €20million had been allocated to spend on the immediate damage caused.
Venice flooding: Tides are forecast to rise above five feet on Sunday (Image: EXPRESS)
In a post on Facebook, Mr Conte said: “The disaster that hit Venice is a blow to the heart of our country. It hurts to see the city so damaged, its artistic heritage compromised, and its business activities so severely affected.
“I gave a clear signal to the authorities and local institutions I met this afternoon: the government is there for you. It is with Venice and Venetians.
“Tomorrow I will be in the city again, I will meet the local community and we will have another operational meeting in the Prefecture to see the real damage and to give the first solutions.
“In the afternoon I will return to Rome for a Council of Ministers during which we will take charge of the request for a state of emergency. We are ready to allocate the first funds.
“I will also accelerate the structural solution to the problems, linked to the extraordinary maintenance of the barriers and the hydraulic systems.
The Italian Prime Minister added: “But it is not only Venice. In these hours many other regions are affected by this violent wave of bad weather. With the Head of Civil Protection we are constantly monitoring the news from all over Italy.
“From the rest of the Veneto, as from Friuli Venezia Giulia, from Puglia to Trentino Alto Adige, from Naples to Matera and from other territories.
“On the Government’s part, our attention is maximum.”
Emanuela Carpani, the official supervising art works and historic buildings, said half the city’s 120 churches had been flooded with salt water on Tuesday, damaging some mosaic floors.
She told the press conference: “Water is a cancer whose damages emerge after months,” adding the first repairs to these churches could cost €3.6 million.”
On Tuesday, the flooding destroyed shops and hotels, leaving many of the city’s historic squares and side streets deep underwater.
Mr Brugnaro warned Venice was “on its knees” and warned of further “widespread devastation”.
He wrote on Twitter: “Venice is on its knees. St. Mark’s Basilica has sustained serious damage, like the entire city and its islands.”
Luca Zaia, the premier of the Veneto region, warned the city was “faced with total, apocalyptic devastation”.
He told Italian media: “I’m not exaggerating – 80 percent of the city is under water, the damage is unimaginable.”
This is also the fourth flood to hit St. Mark’s Basilica in the last 20 years, with the vestibule of the church flooded with water on Tuesday.
It has sparked fears the church’s historic collection of rich mosaics and artworks could be destroyed, with muddy water surrounding marble tombs in the crypt.
Carlo Alberto Tesserin, first procurator of the Basilica, who is the president of a team responsible for managing the historic site, said: “We’re talking about millions of euros worth of damage.
“We said last year that the Basilica had aged 20 years in a high tide. It risks having aged much more than that in this one.”
Venice archbishop Francesco Moraglia said the Basilica is “suffering structural damage because the water has risen and so it’s causing irreparable damage, especially when it dries out in the lower section of the mosaics and tiling.”
This is a breaking story. More to follow.