What Happened
On Thursday, Nov. 14, the Italian Government declared a state of emergency as floods in Venice swelled to water levels of over three feet and threatened the destruction of many cultural and historic landmarks, according to National Public Radio.
Mayor of Venice Luigi Brugnaro estimated that the damages will cost hundreds of millions of euros, and on Thursday, Nov. 14, the Italian government allocated 20 million euros — equivalent to $22 million — to tackle the immediate damages, according to NPR.
Nearly one-third of the raised walkways in Venice were destroyed, along with parts of St. Mark’s Basilica and the Acqua Alta Library.
In Context
Thursday’s state of emergency follows historic flooding in Venice Tuesday, Nov. 12, when the high tide was over 6 feet tall — the second-worst flood to hit the city in 53 years, according to NPR.
Since records began in 1923, the worst flood in Venice reached 6 feet 3 inches in 1966, according to Aljazeera.
Brugnaro blamed global warming for the flooding and warned that Italy must prepare itself for more natural disasters, according to Agence France-Presse.
For the first time in its history, the Veneto regional council — located on Venice’s Grand Canal — was flooded on Tuesday, Nov. 12, after lawmakers rejected measures to battle climate change, according to CNN.
The Latest
On Sunday, Nov. 17, five feet of water flooded Venice, according to The Guardian. Brugnaro estimated that the costs of cleaning up the city would be around one billion euros.
Two people have already died as a result of the devastation, according to The Guardian. An elderly man was struck by lightning while using an electric water pump and the second victim was found dead in his home.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said Friday, Nov. 15, that the Italian government will hold a meeting Tuesday, Nov. 26, to discuss Venice’s structural problems and governance, according to Reuters.
Flooding on Friday saw high tides of over five feet that submerged 70 percent of Venice underwater, according to CNBC.
Brugnaro said in a Tweet Saturday, Nov. 16, that he had been appointed by the head of the Civil Protection department as commissioner delegated to address the emergency and has set up a control room to deal with the damages.
Arielle Robinson contributed to this article.
