Venice mayor blames climate change as flooding hits second-highest levels ever

MILAN — The mayor of Venice blamed climate change for flooding of the historic canal citythat hit the second-highest levels ever, as the city braced for yet another wave on Wednesday.The high-water mark hit 74 inches late Tuesday, meaning more than 85 percent of the city was flooded. The highest level ever recorded was 78 inches during infamous flooding in 1966.The governor of the Veneto region, Luca Zaia, said one person died, though the cause was not immediately clear.Photos on social media showed a city ferry and taxi boats grounded on walkways flanking canals. Already on Tuesday, much of the city was under water, inundating the famed St. Mark's Basilica and raising anew concerns over damage to the mosaics and other artworks.

Officials projected a second wave as high as 63 inches at mid-morning Wednesday.Venice's Mayor Luigi Brugnaro blamed climate change for the "dramatic situation" and called for a speedy completion of a long-delayed project to construct off-shore barriers.Called "Moses," the moveable under-sea barriers are meant to limit flooding of the city, caused by southerly winds that push the tide into Venice. But the controversial project opposed by environmentalists concerned about damaging the delicate lagoon eco-system has been delayed by cost-overruns and corruption scandals, with no completion date in site.Zaia told SkyTG24 that the barriers were almost complete, but it wasn't clear if they would work against such flooding."Despite 5 billion euros under water, St. Mark's Square certainly wouldn't be secure," Zaia said, referring to one of Venice's lowest points that floods when there is an inundation of 31.5 inches.Brugnaro said that the flood levels represent "a wound that will leave indelible signs."