World Venice flooding nearly touches level of infamous 1966 flood

MILAN (AP) — The mayor of Venice blamed climate change for flooding of the historic canal city that hit the second-highest levels ever, as the city braced for yet another wave on Wednesday.

Venice paralyzed by the worst flooding in half a century

Residents in the iconic city on a lagoon are used to water, but the mayor has called this year's high tides "apocalyptic," and says climate change is to blameVenice sits on a tidal lagoon, just above sea level, so the city's squares and streets often get wet at high tide. This week, though, the water peaked more than six feet above the usual level, and at least one death has been blamed on the flooding already.

Flooding in the canal city of Venice has reached the second-highest level ever, after infamous 1966 floods . The high-water mark hit 187 centimeters (74 inches) late Tuesday, meaning more than 85% of the city was flooded . The highest level ever recorded was 198 centimeters (78 inches) in 1966 .

Venice experienced its highest flooding in a decade, leaving much of the city underwater.CreditCredit Stefano Mazzola/Awakening In Venice , ferocious winds drove the high tide to more than 61 inches, or 156 centimeters, above average sea level on Monday, one of the highest

The high-water mark hit 187 centimeters (74 inches) late Tuesday, meaning more than 85% of the city was flooded. The highest level ever recorded was 198 centimeters (78 inches) during infamous flooding in 1966.

The governor of the Veneto region, Luca Zaia, said one person died, though the cause was not immediately clear.

Photos on social media showed a city ferry and taxi boats grounded on walkways flanking canals. Already on Tuesday, much of the city was under water, inundating the famed St. Mark's Basilica and raising anew concerns over damage to the mosaics and other artworks.

Officials projected a second wave as high as 160 centimeters (63 inches) at mid-morning Wednesday.

Flooded Venice had tourists taking selfies and residents in tears

There’s a sense that life in one of the world’s most improbable and spellbinding cities is becoming unviable. “The reaction is to cry,” said Flavia Feletti, 77, who has lived in Venice for six decades. “I am afraid there is no solution. When I went out the day after the flooding, I met a kind of funeral in the city.” Your browser does not support this video require(["binding"], function (binding) { binding("wcVideoPlayer", "#video_player_92a36127-9669-49ac-b516-8fa4fa9812c8").all(); }); Venice has thrived since the 5th century by taming the water all around it.

Flooding in the canal city has reached its highest level since the infamous 1966 floods . Venice was hit by the highest tide in more than 50 years late on Tuesday, with tourists wading through flooded streets to seek shelter as a fierce wind whipped up waves in St Mark’s Square.

Venice ‘s mayor has blamed climate change for its highest tide in over 50 years, which flooded St Mark’s Square and many of the ancient city's alleyways. The highest level ever recorded was 198cm (78in) during infamous flooding in 1966 . Created with Sketch. Venice flooding in pictures: City hit

Venice's Mayor Luigi Brugnaro blamed climate change for the "dramatic situation" and called for a speedy completion of a long-delayed project to construct off-shore barriers.

Called "Moses," the moveable under-sea barriers are meant to limit flooding of the city, caused by southerly winds that push the tide into Venice. But the controversial project opposed by environmentalists concerned about damaging the delicate lagoon eco-system has been delayed by cost-overruns and corruption scandals, with no completion date in site.

Zaia told SkyTG24 that the barriers were almost complete, but it wasn't clear if they would work against such flooding.

"Despite 5 billion euros under water, St. Mark's Square certainly wouldn't be secure," Zaia said, referring to one of Venice's lowest points that floods when there is an inundation of 80 centimeters (31.5 inches).

Brugnaro said that the flood levels represent "a wound that will leave indelible signs."