Venice ‘Under Three Feet of Water’

Tourists are being urged to stay away from Venice, which is submerged in its worst floods in more than 20 years. After days of heavy rain, the lagoon around the historic Italian city has risen to more than 4 feet above normal, and is at its fourth highest in modern times, with ferry and water taxi services suspended. “The whole of Venice is under three feet of water,” a British tourist tells The Daily Mail. “You can actually swim across St. Mark’s Square. We’ve just waded an hour and a half to get to our hotel.” In 1900, the Mail reports, St. Mark’s Square flooded 10 times a year, but now it floods as much as 60 times every year, and the city is sinking 10 centimeters annually. Mayor Massimo Cacciari is asking tourists to put off visiting the city and locals to stay indoors. Meanwhile, further downpours are in the forecast.