Venice underwater, massive damage: here are images of the disaster from the city

Venice was hit tonight by the second highest high tide ever, with 187 cm of water touched at around 11 p.m., a level that follows only that of the November 4, 1966 flood (the same day as the Florence flood), when 194 cm were recorded. Not only the Basilica of San Marco was invaded by water, as we wrote this morning on these pages: the sea literally took over the whole city, submerging the calli, entering houses, businesses, warehouses, and churches. At the moment it is too early to make an accurate damage count, but according to Mayor Luigi Brugnaro we are in the hundreds of millions of euros. “Venice is on its knees,” he said. “St. Mark’s Basilica has suffered serious damage as has the entire city and the islands. We are here with Patriarch Moraglia to bring our support, but we need everyone’s help to get through these days that are putting us under great strain.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has canceled his commitments and announced his arrival in the lagoon for this afternoon. “I want to see the damage up close and get a sense of the situation,” he said. “With the Civil Protection Department, maximum attention will also be paid to other regions.” The event has been described by many as exceptional, but it is clear that action needs to be taken: similar floods have been recorded only six times in 1,200 years, but two of them have occurred in the last two years. Environment Minister Sergio Costa points the finger at climate change: “to counter climate change,” he said, “we need bold and strong political and economic action.”

As far as cultural heritage is concerned, there is still no clear idea of the situation, and they are waiting for the Ministry’s inspectors to communicate the results of their investigations. At the moment, MiBACT Secretary General Salvo Nastasi told ANSA, it is impossible to quantify the damage, “but the situation,” he said, “is extremely complex and worrying.” In the meantime, it is known that many churches have been hard hit: water has entered abundantly in the churches of Sant’Alvise, San Girolamo, San Marcuola and Santa Sofia in the Cannaregio district, it has invaded the church of San Moisè (from where very worrying images are coming) a few steps from San Marco, and the same goes for the church of San Cassiano (near Rialto), that of Santa Maria Mater Domini, and that of the Carmini. Water also in Murano, in the church of San Donato. An estimate of the damage, however, will only be possible in the days to come.

So here, at the moment, are the pictures of the disaster.

High water on the banks. Photo: Nicola Pellicani

Water in the historic center. Photo: Venice shopkeepers group

Water in the historic center. Photo: Venice shopkeepers group

Damage to the banks in front of the Giardini. Photo: Elena Zanon

Water near the Rialto Bridge. Photo: Arduino Vecchiato

Water invades the luxurious Hotel Gritti Palace.

Water in St. Mark’s Square. Photo: Gente Veneta

Water at the Fondamenta Alberti, in the Dorsoduro sestiere. Photo: Caterina Femio

Piazzale Roma. Photo: Gianpietro Fasan

The hall of the Regional Council at Palazzo Ferro Fini. Photo: Nicola Bressanin

Rio della Canonica. Photo: Edoardo Simonato

The tombs of the Patriarchs of Venice at the crypt of St. Mark’s. Photo: Gente Veneta

Piazzetta dei Leoni. Photo: Gente Veneta

Exterior of La Fenice Theater.

Piazza San Marco. Photo: Arma dei Carabinieri

Piazzale Roma, vaporetto landing stage. Photo: Radiotaxi Venezia

Church of San Moisè. Photo: Toto Bergamo Rossi

Church of San Moisè. Photo: Toto Bergamo Rossi

Calli of the historic center. Photo: Jenny Doriana Ravagnan

Rio dei mendicanti, Castello sestiere. In the background the Scuola Grande di San Marco. Photo: Jenny Doriana Ravagnan

Venice underwater, massive damage: here are images of the disaster from the city

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