Venice has obviously not finished with the floods. The Serenissima fears Sunday, November 17 a new "acqua alta". According to the weather services, the water should reach 1.60m at midday.
Friday, the high tide had reached 1.54 meters and led to the closure for several hours of the iconic St. Mark's Square. And Tuesday night, Venice had its worst high tide in 53 years, 1.87 m, the second historic record behind that of November 4, 1966 (1.94 m). Water has invaded the churches, shops, museums and hotels of this world heritage jewel by Unesco, flooding 80%. Most ATMs were out of use Saturday in the city. "Venice is devastated, there is a billion (euros) of damage," said Mayor Luigi Brugnaro.
The Italian football team went to the city on Saturday to show their solidarity. "Venice will survive this too, like a badly injured athlete who finally gets up," said former international Gianluca Vialli.
The Italian Minister of Culture, Dario Franceschini, came Friday to note the damage, believes that the repair work will be considerable. More than 50 churches were damaged, he noted.
A compromised tourist season
Venice, with 50,000 inhabitants, receives 36 million tourists a year, 90% of whom are foreigners. Hotels, including Locanda Al Leon, are starting to regret cancellations for the end of year celebrations.
The mayor of Venice announced Friday the opening of a bank account for all those who, in Italy and abroad, wish to contribute to the repairs. "Venice, a unique place, is everyone's legacy, and with your help, Venice will shine again," he wrote in a statement. Residents whose homes have been damaged can apply for immediate government assistance of 5,000 euros, and traders can receive up to 20,000 euros.
Thursday evening, the government of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte had approved the establishment of the state of emergency in Venice and announced the release of 20 million euros "for the most urgent interventions".
This state of emergency procedure, often used in an Italy regularly hit by disasters (earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and landslides), endows the government with "exceptional powers and means".
With AFP