Photo Credit: Manuel Silvestri/REUTERS
The water levels in the ancient Italian trading hub are more than 1.5 meters above the normal level. Without flood protections, 80% of Venice’s pedestrian paths would be under water. The city of canals, Venice, has raised its protective floodgates to combat heavy rains as water inundates the city, with roughly 1.7 meters (5.6 feet) of rain more than average, local authorities said Tuesday.
The highest warning levels are now in effect. Waters up to 1.4 meters are forecast for both Wednesday and Thursday.
The flood barrier system, a network of 78 yellow flood gates that block the three entrances to the Venice lagoon from the seafloor, was deployed early Tuesday morning. It is especially common during the rainy autumn season for the city’s defenses against flooding to be deployed.
ar/jcg(dpa, Reuters)
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