Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced a national state of emergency on Thursday evening after floodwater levels in Venice reached the highest level in more than 50 years.
Conte also tweeted that the Italian cabinet approved €20 million ($22 million) to help the city recover from the floods.
Deliberato in Cdm lo stato di emergenza per #Venezia. Stanziati 20 mln, i primi fondi per gli interventi più urgenti, a sostegno della città e della popolazione. Al lavoro per il piano per gli indennizzi a privati e commercianti e per rifinanziare la legge speciale per Venezia
— Giuseppe Conte (@GiuseppeConteIT) November 14, 2019
Water levels have remained high since reaching their peak on Tuesday night.
DW‘s Giulia Saudelli said “tourists and camera crews are wading through the water.” Water levels on Thursday reached around 130 centimeters (51 inches).
Water is rising in Saint Mark’s Square, Venice. Tourists and camera crews wading trough the water in rubber boots. High tide of about 130 cm expected for 10:50 @dwnews pic.twitter.com/fAJ7xtrMJZ
— Giulia Saudelli (@giuliasaudelli) November 14, 2019
Venetian mayor Luigi Brugnaro said on Thursday that the city was “on its knees” and unequivocally blamed climate change for the high water levels.
“There’s widespread devastation,” he said. “In all likelihood the damage runs into the hundreds of millions of euros.”
In Venice, the crypt beneath St. Mark’s Basilica was inundated for only the second time in its history. The city’s archbishop, Francesco Moraglia, said the basilica had suffered “irreparable damage,” with salty water posing risks to its mosaics, columns and pavements.
Where will the money be spent?
PM Conte tweeted that the money approved by the Italian government would be used for “the city and its population.”
Italian newspaper Repubblica earlier reported that Conte planned to pledge financial aid to all Venetians in light of the high cost of damage done to property and potential losses of income from tourism.
Despite the flooding, tourists still came out in droves to the famous historical city, with large number of tourists still in St Mark’s Square.
I’m in Venice for the floods and what’s truly surprising is how many people have resolved to just have fun and enjoy their holiday regardless pic.twitter.com/VNpclMrxoN
— James Jackson (@derJamesJackson) November 14, 2019
Venice for years has been struggling with a huge number of tourists, the constant deterioration of its fragile lagoon environment and a dwindling population.
The latest floods have reignited a yearslong debate about the controversial semi-submersible barrier system, Moses, which Conte reaffirmed in Repubblica that it was on track to be ready by 2021.
The multibillion-euro flood defenses project, which has been under construction since 2003, has been delayed a number of times due to corruption scandals, cost overruns and environmentalists’ opposition over its effects on the city’s lagoon ecosystem.
The plan involves 78 gates that can be raised to protect Venice’s lagoon during high tides — but a recent attempt to test part of it caused worrying vibrations and engineers discovered it had rusted.