ROME - Large parts of Venice were flooded on Monday as heavy rains and strong winds lashed the lagoon city, with sea levels at their highest level in 22 years.
Ferry and water taxi services in the city were suspended and Venice's mayor urged people to stay indoors. Tourists and residents struggled to get across the city over raised walkways.The Centro Maree, which forecasts water levels, said sea levels in the Adriatic rose 1.56 metres (5.1 ft) -- a level not seen since 1986.
The floods have left people in low-lying parts of Venice, including the popular tourist site of St. Mark's Square, wading through knee-deep water.
"These are exceptionally high waters," Venice's Mayor Massimo Cacciari was quoted as saying by the Ansa news agency. "Don't venture out unless it is necessary."
The entire city -- founded on a collection of marshy islands in the 5th century and criss-crossed by canals -- suffers from periodic flooding caused by high tides.
The government has begun a multi-billion euro floodgate project aimed at stopping rising sea levels destroying the city.
(Writing by Deepa Babington; Editing by Nita Bhalla)
Historic center of Venice flooded
The Guardian 1 Dec 08;
VENICE, Italy (AP) - The worst flooding in Venice in more than 20 years forced residents and tourists to wade through knee-high water Monday.
City officials said the sea level topped 61 inches (156 centimeters) on Monday, well past the 40-inch (110-centimeter) flood mark, following heavy rains. Alarms went off to alert citizens in the morning.
"There are very few streets that are water-free," said a city spokesman, Enzo Bon.
Among the spots affected was St. Mark's Square, the landmark piazza that is the lowest point in the city.
Workers were unable to install the raised wooden walkways used during flooding because the water rose too high and too quickly. The floods forced many of the water taxis to suspend service, Bon said.
TV footage showed people rolling up their pants or wearing rubber boots as they walked through the water. Some had plastic wrapped around their legs, while some tourists in St. Mark's walked on chairs left in the piazza.
The last time Venice registered such high waters was in 1986, city officials said. The all-time record was 194 centimeters (76 inches) in 1966.