Inundated Venice braced for more flooding, strong winds
The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Friday, December 27, 2024


Inundated Venice braced for more flooding, strong winds
A general view shows St. Mark's Square, with St. Mark's Basilica (Rear L) and the Bell Tower on November 16, 2019 in Venice, two days after the city suffered its highest tide in 50 years. Flood-hit Venice was bracing for another exceptional high tide on November 15, as Italy declared a state of emergency for the UNESCO city where perilous deluges have caused millions of euros worth of damage. Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP.

by Filippo Monteforte with Charles Onians in Rome



VENICE (AFP).- Venice was on alert for more floods and fierce winds on Saturday after an exceptionally high tide swamped the city of canals, where authorities have declared a state of emergency.

Mayor Luigi Brugnaro ordered the iconic St Mark's Square closed on Friday as the latest sea surge struck with strong storms and winds battering the region.

The square was open again on Saturday, but the city forecast a high water of 160 centimetres (over five feet) for Sunday, lower than Tuesday's high of 187 centimetres but still dangerous.

Civil protection authorities downgraded a weather "red alert" for the Venice region to orange, with Saturday's midday high forecast to be a manageable 105 centimetres.

Churches, shops and homes in the city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, have been inundated by unusually intense "acqua alta", or high water, which on Tuesday hit its highest level in half a century.

"We've destroyed Venice, we're talking about one billion (euros) in damage," Brugnaro said.

The Italian football team travelled to Venice on Saturday to show solidarity with the stricken city.

"On behalf of the whole team, we stand close to the city of Venice," said Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The Italian football federation delegation visited several businesses damaged by the flooding, and chatted with Venetians, volunteers and police.

"Venice will overcome this too. Like an athlete who suffers a serious injury and then gets up again," said delegation chief and former Azzurri international Gianluca Vialli.

The crisis has prompted the government to release 20 million euros ($22 million) in funds to tackle the devastation.

Surveying the damage, Culture Minister Dario Franceschini warned the task of repairing the city would be huge. More than 50 churches had suffered damage, he said.

Hotel reservations cancelled
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte declared a state of emergency for the city on Thursday.

Residents whose houses have been hit are eligible for up to 5,000 euros in immediate government aid, while restaurant and shop owners can receive up to 20,000 euros and apply for more later.

Mayor Brugnaro on Friday also announced the opening of a fund where people in Italy and around the world could contribute to the historic city's repair.

One tourist, Italian Nicole Righetti, said she would be willing to pitch in.

"It would be a shame to no longer be able to see these places, and I think everyone should give," Righetti said.

Most of the city's cash machines were no longer working because of the water, making life even more difficult for tourists and Venetians.

Despite being used to the inconvenience of their city's rising waters, some inhabitants expressed frustration.

"All the stock in the basement is lost," lamented Luciano, a worker at a shop along St. Mark's Square.

He said he remembered well the infamous "acqua alta" of 1966, when the water rose to a level of 1.94 metres, the highest since records began in 1923.

"These so frequent high waters have never happened before... this time there's so much more damage than in the past," he said.

Hotels reported cancelled reservations, some as far ahead as December, following the widespread diffusion of images of Venice underwater.

Tuesday's high waters submerged around 80 percent of the city, officials said.

Many, including Venice's mayor, have blamed the disaster on global warming and warned that the country prone to natural disasters must wake up to the risks posed by ever more volatile seasons.

The Serenissima, as the floating city is called, is home to 50,000 residents but receives 36 million visitors each year.

A massive infrastructure project called MOSE has been under way since 2003 to protect the city, but it has been plagued by cost overruns, corruption scandals and delays.


© Agence France-Presse










Today's News

November 17, 2019

Oscar Wilde's stolen ring found by Dutch 'art detective'

Rare female nude group painting by Sanyu to lead Sotheby's HK Modern Art Sale in spring 2020

The Mishkan Museum of Art presents for the first time an exhibition on Chaïm Soutine

Trash-stalking with Rachel Harrison

Works by Keith Haring, Joseph Cornell, and Paul Howard Manship lead in Rago's $3.4 million Fall Fine Art Auction

The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco announces the acquisition of Penumbra by Frank Bowling

Free exhibit celebrates the making of The Clash's ground-breaking album 'London Calling'

Stephanie Comilang wins 2019 Sobey Art Award

At museums around the world, a focus on food

Inundated Venice braced for more flooding, strong winds

Protest graffiti fills Beirut's posh downtown

Sèvres treasures from service for Madame du Barry, Louis XV's last great love offered at Bonhams

From a sewing needle to a laser cutter, a new approach to fashion

DC Moore Gallery opens an exhibition by Duane Michals

Richard Saltoun Gallery opens an exhibition on maternal politics, identity and embodiment

Exhibition aims to reframe our view of photography

Rare branch mint proof half dollar sells for $504,000 at auction

Two-person figural painting show featuring February James and John Rivas opens at Ross + Kramer Gallery

These artists refuse to forget the wars in Iraq

Three real exotics for sale at the next H&H Classics auction online December 4th

Zeitz MOCAA collection reimagined in 'Two Together'

Her secrets make for a real page turner

Robert Upstone launches new gallery space focusing on on British art of the 20th and 21st centuries

Modern Art Helmet Row opens an exhibition of works by Torey Thornton




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher: Jose Villarreal
(52 8110667640)

Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez
Writer: Ofelia Zurbia Betancourt

Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org juncodelavega.com facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
to a Mexican poet.
Hommage
       

The First Art Newspaper on the Net. The Best Versions Of Ave Maria Song Junco de la Vega Site Ignacio Villarreal Site
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful