Flood protection gates activated in Venice – storms allowed all over Italy Cesarean section in a mentally ill girl – without her consent

Venice has extended the flood gates due to severe flooding. The level in the northern Italian city reached a level of about 170 centimeters above normal, the municipality announced on Tuesday morning. The highest warning level applies.

Without the flood protection, about 80 percent of the footpaths in the lagoon city, which is popular with tourists, would be flooded at this level. According to the municipality, such a level would also mean that people on the famous San Marco Square would be standing in water almost up to their waists. Live footage on Tuesday showed walkways and people walking across the rainy square, but it was not flooded.

In the early hours of the morning, the city rolled out the flood protection mechanism, abbreviated as “Moses”. The system of 78 yellow valves installed at three entrances to the lagoon has been in operation since 2020. Especially in the fall, when rain and storms raise water levels, Venice continues to build its multi-billion dollar structure. Since then, major flooding in the UNESCO World Heritage city has been avoided. “Mose” has not had to fend off such high water as Tuesday since it was commissioned.

The salt water of the sea is a problem for the historical buildings, especially for the mosaics and frescoes, for example on churches. The last time there was a major flood was around 2019, when a water level of 187 centimeters above normal was measured on the night of November 12 to 13. The historic flood of the century in Venice dates back to 1966, when the water swelled to 194 centimeters.

Schools in other parts of Italy were also canceled on Tuesday due to storms and heavy rain, such as in the coastal community of Ostia near Rome or in Sardinia. Civil protection reported locally fallen trees and flooding. (aeg/sda/dpa)