High tides have caused flooding in the Italian city of Venice, partially submerging cafes, homes and churches.
The famous St. Mark’s Square was partially flooded, with photos showing tourists wading through the water without shoes as they move through the city.
Authorities erected elevated walkways throughout the square and inside the St. Mark’s Basilica for tourists to avoid getting wet.
Venice’s location has made it no stranger to floods, which tends to happen annually between October and January due to seasonal tides and strong winds.
In 2019, the city experienced its second worst flood in history with at least three-quarters of the city completely flooded.
As historical buildings in Venice see serious deterioration from floods, governmental officials have started various initiatives to preserve their city.
Among them is the MOSE project, which will erect walls to protect the city from flooding and has been almost 20 years in the making.
However, the project has received criticism for its real effectiveness to combat rising sea-levels.
“It can, at best, only prevent extensive flooding of the city and other islands caused by extreme events. Things need to be done to protect the urban fabric from the chronic impacts of higher and higher average water levels,” non-profits to save Venice told BBC.
More than 300 floods in Venice have been recorded since 1872, with more than half happening in the past three decades.
Climate change has increased the likelihood of extreme weather events, creating more dangerous floods, according to experts.
At the same time, global warming is causing sea level to rise rapidly, sinking Venice more and more as each year passes.
