Venice is under water! This might not sound so strange for the city that's known for its canals, but flooding due to high tides has covered about 70 percent of the Italian city.
Almost three quarters of the city was flooded on Monday, forcing tourists to swim through busy areas and residents to evacuate to Tuscany. The water in Venice reached five feet, which is the sixth highest level since records were first counted in 1872.
The tide was so high that shops, houses and historic landmarks were completely full of water as people had to wade through waist-deep waters.
Tourists crossed the busy St. Marks Square while wearing boots or plastic bags around them and carrying suitcases above their head. Wooden walkways had to be erected in the square and along the Rialto bridge to help residents and tourists make their way around the city. Some daring tourists insisted at sitting at cafe tables, even though they had to wear swimwear to do so.
While those in Venice seemed to be making the best of the situation and having a fun time, the flooding caused serious issues in Tuscany. In Tuscany, 9 inches of rain fell in four hours, which caused the Ricortola and Parmignola rivers to flood, according to Reuters "It has been devastating," Roberto Pucci, the mayor of Massa Carrara in Tuscany told Reuters.
About 200 people evacuated their homes and some were left waiting for the flooding to pass while on the roof of their homes.
"I saw at least six bridges destroyed in the hills, floods, landslides, vineyards and olive groves swept away. If there hasn't been a death it's a miracle," he told Corriere della Sera newspaper.
The flooding was caused by heavy rain and wind from the combination of two different weather systems, but flooding in Venice is typical during this time of year. However, the high flooding has been occurring more often and some fear it is due to global climate change.
Residents and tourists have to use the wooden walkways to stay above flood waters about four or five times a year now. This was the fourth time since 2000 that Venice had record level flooding.
A barrier to protect the city from winter-time flooding is expected to be finished by 2015.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
