More major flooding in Venice: DW's Giulia Saudelli reports
03:18
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Since records began in 1872, that level has never been reached even twice in one year. There is no other week on record where waters have reached the 1.5-meter mark three times in one week.
Usually, tides of 80-90 centimeters are considered high.
Museums and stores in hardest-hit areas also remained closed.
Hundreds of volunteers mobilized to help Venice's inhabitants and to protect iconic buildings in the city, which is world-famous for its canals, historic architecture and art.
Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, who has also been appointed special commissioner to deal with the emergency, pleaded with citizens not to give up hope, saying, "Venetians only get on their knees to pray."
Earlier in the week the city declared a state of emergency and ministers pledged €20 million ($22 million) to address the immediate damage.
Other parts of Italy also experienced severe weather during the weekend, with the river Arno in Pisa threatening to burst it banks.
Why has Venice flooded?
Experts say that Venice is both sinking into the mud it was built on and is at threat from rising sea levels due to climate change.
The flooding has renewed calls for the Mose flood barrier project for the city.
Venice floods — in pictures
The floods of November 2019 were the worst in over 50 years in the Italian canal city of Venice. The mayor has categorically blamed climate change for the unusually high water levels.
Image: Reuters/M. Silvestri
Grand Canal bursts its banks
In a city of canals, high water levels cause chaos even far away from the lagoon. Beneath Venice's iconic Rialto Bridge, the Grand Canal burst its banks and made access difficult. The bridge is one of only four which spans Venice's largest canal, which is a transport route for many tourists and workers in the city.
Image: Reuters/M. Silvestri
Acqua Alta
Powerful rainstorms hit northern Italy on November 12. A cyclone threatened the country and an exceptionally high tide reached the city. In Venice, high water levels are normal at this time of year and are traditionally referred to as "Acqua Alta" — high water. Popular tourist destination St Mark's Square flooded and made access difficult.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/M. Bertorello
Balancing act
The last high water on this scale was in 1966, when flood levels reached 194 cm (76 inches). In November, levels in St Mark's Square reached the second-highest level ever recorded, at 187 cm. People were forced to use precarious "catwalks."
Image: Reuters/M. Silvestri
Death in Venice?
For the historic city, the flooding is an increasingly dangerous problem. The high water is an annual occurrence but rarely reaches levels this high. The mayor has appealed for government help, labeling the floods "disastrous." Fortunately, there have not yet been any major injuries or fatalities reported in connection with the flooding.
Image: picture-alliance/M. Chinellato
Don't forget your umbrella
Controversy continues in the city around underwater flood barriers which have been in development for several years. Plagued with cost overruns and corruption scandals, there are also concerns that the barriers could disturb the delicate ecosystem of the Venice lagoon. The flood barriers would aim to prevent scenes like this from happening.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/L. Bruno
Climate change to blame
Mayor Luigi Brugnaro has been unequivocal in blaming climate change for the especially high water levels. He warned that even a few more centimeters of flooding could irreparably damage historical sites in the city. But with more heavy rains forecast, there is likely to be little let-up for the canal city in the coming weeks.
