Italy’s government is preparing to declare a state
of emergency in flood-ravaged Venice, aiming
to swiftly secure repair funding for the historic
lagoon city after the highest tide in 50 years.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte
described the flooding as “a blow to the heart
of our country.”
He said a cabinet meeting Thursday afternoon
will declare a state of emergency and approve the
first measures aimed at helping the city recover.
Conte spent Wednesday night in Venice,
where world-famous monuments, homes and
businesses were hit hard by the exceptional
flooding. The water reached 1.87 meters (6 feet,
1 inch) above sea level Tuesday, the second-
highest level ever recorded in the city.
That was just 7 centimeters (2½ inches) lower
than the historic 1966 flood. Another wave of
exceptionally high water followed Wednesday.
The flooding was caused by southerly winds
that pushed a high tide, exacerbated by a full
moon, into the city.