Historic center of Venice flooded

VENICE, Italy — The worst flooding in Venice in more than 20 years forced residents and tourists to wade through knee-high water Monday.

City officials said the sea level topped 61 inches (156 centimeters) on Monday, well past the 40-inch (110-centimeter) flood mark, following heavy rains. Alarms went off to alert citizens in the morning.

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LUIGI COSTANTINI/STR

People wade through high water near Venice’s Rialto Bridge. The Italian city is seeing its worst flooding in more than 20 years.

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“There are very few streets that are water-free,” said a city spokesman, Enzo Bon.

Among the spots affected was St. Mark’s Square, the landmark piazza that is the lowest point in the city.

Workers were unable to install the raised wooden walkways used during flooding because the water rose too high and too quickly. The floods forced many of the water taxis to suspend service, Bon said.

TV footage showed people rolling up their pants or wearing rubber boots as they walked through the water. Some had plastic wrapped around their legs, while some tourists in St. Mark’s walked on chairs left in the piazza.

The last time Venice registered such high waters was in 1986, city officials said. The all-time record was 194 centimeters (76 inches) in 1966.