A testing concoction of natural events has swept over Venice, including torrential rains, high tides and fiercely strong winds (that are equivalent to Category 1 hurricanes), submerging nearly three-fourths of it in water and killing eleven people. La acqua alta (or high water) has always affected this City of Canals in Italy, but this is the worst calamity to occur here in a decade. Most of the city—which is made up of only canals, and no roads—has been submerged in more than 5 feet of water. Snapshots of the Piazza San Marco, the largest square in Venice where people gather, inundated show the real impact of the floods. The St Mark’s Basilica, an iconic Catholic church of Venice, too has been greatly affected with its baptistery floors flooded and mosaic floors covered in nearly 3 feet water, as per reports. As it is tourist season in Venice, especially from the month September-November, the flooding has impacted scores of tourists and locals alike. Shops, restaurants have been shut down, while temporary walkways have been installed to help people traverse waters. It isn’t just Venice, however. The powerful force winds have hit Italy from Piedmont down to Sicily. In Rome, the Colosseum was closed early weather warnings. Rising water in the Arno river has also caused minor flooding in Pisa and Florence. Other places such as Naples, Liguria, Lazio, too have been struck by the violent weather. An event such as this isn’t one-off, unfortunately. More and more low-lying island nations over the world (officially called small island developing States or SIDS) are facing the brunt of global warming. It is predicted, for example, that the Maldives will be completely swallowed and submerged in the next thirty years. Other small island nations such as Kiribati, Tuvalu, Haiti, the Marshall Islands, among several others are vulnerable as ever to the effects of climate change. The short-term solution suggested is often a mass shift or exodus to non-island cities, or increasing financial and technical support for these states. The question is—will these be implemented, and will these nations survive?<doc-sep>The nickname “the floating city” has never been more appropriate. Heavy rain and wind has hit Italy, and high tides near Venice have caused flooding in about 77% of the city, according to CNN. At high tide, the water rose five feet, three inches above sea level.<doc-sep>Venice's iconic piazzas are covered in water, not pigeons, as three-quarters of the city is submerged following a storm that brought strong winds, rose water levels, and toppled trees. Water levels rose more than five feet (156cm / 61.4 inches), with photos showing locals and tourists wading their way through it. The peak level of the water on Monday was the highest reached since December 2008, according to city statistics cited by AP. The water levels even exceeded raised walkways in the city which are made for flooded areas, prompting their removal. Most of the city's famous water bus system was also closed down. Speaking on Monday, Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said a series of underwater barriers would have prevented the rising water levels. That project, dubbed 'Moses,' has been long delayed, with cost overruns and corruption scandals to blame. Brugnaro said he had spoken with Premier Guiseppe Conte to stress the urgency of the Moses project, which would raise barriers when the tide reaches 109 centimeters (43 inches). That happens four times a year in Venice on average. Much of Italy is under flooding alerts following heavy rains on Sunday and Monday, with high winds and toppled trees leading to at least five deaths. Like this story? Share it with a friend!<doc-sep>A woman was killed when her home was hit by a landslide and a fisherman's body was found hours after he went to check on his boat on a lake in Trento. South of the beach resort of Rimini, a kite-surfer aged 63 died when he was hurled against rocks.<doc-sep>
People walk in the flooded street during a high-water alert in Venice. (AFP) At least five people died Monday in Italy as fierce winds and rains lashed much of the country and caused waters in the canal-ringed city of Venice to reach historic high levels. Falling trees killed two people in their car not far from Rome, a man south of the capital and another in the Naples region, authorities said. Near Savona in the northwest meanwhile, a falling piece of cornice struck and killed an elderly lady. In Venice, rain-soaked tourists were barred from St. Mark's Square where local authorities said the "acqua alta" (high water) peaked at 156 centimetres (61 inches) by early afternoon. Elevated wooden platforms usually placed on main passageways in the Renaissance city were not high enough to ensure safe passage in the low-lying square. Families carried children on their shoulders through the surrounding streets. While some tourists donned thigh-high wellies, others had opted to take off their shoes and wade through the water. People take off shoes and wade through the water The waters have only topped 150 centimetres five times before in recorded history. In 1966, when floods swept through the country, famously devastating Florence's historic centre, the waters reached 194 centimetres in Venice. Nearly all of northern Italy was on alert due to the storms, with wind gusts up to 100 kilometres per hour and rainfall in some places equivalent to the amount that falls over several months. Luca Zaia, head of the Veneto region, said the situation could be worse than when huge floods struck in 2010. "The ground is already saturated with water, the rivers are full and due to sirocco (a strong hot wind from Northern Africa), the sea is not absorbing (the waters), he said. Schools were closed in Genoa, Rome and Veneto, as well as in several northern towns and the Sicilian port of Messina.