• Tweeter

  • republish

Saint Mark's Square was closed this Friday, November 15th. REUTERS / Flavio Lo Scalzo

The mayor of the City of Doges has announced the closing of the famous St. Mark's Square, Friday, November 15, while the city is experiencing a new tide.

" I am forced to close the Piazza San Marco to save the citizens of Venice any health risk, a disaster, " said the mayor of the city at midday, Luigi Brugnaro.

According to the Monitoring Center of the City Hall of the Doges, the acqua alta was to reach 1.50 meters around 10:20 UTC.

► To read also: Moses, a pharaonic project to save Venice from the waters

A trader from St. Mark's Square tries to evacuate the water from his shop. REUTERS / Flavio Lo Scalzo

Tuesday night, Venice was devastated by the worst high tide in 53 years. Churches, shops, museums and hotels have been invaded by the waters. An exceptional 1.87 meter acqua alta that killed at least one person.

The Italian government decreed Thursday the state of emergency for natural disaster. The damage is already estimated at hundreds of thousands of euros.

(with AFP)