Italy: Venice activates flood barriers to keep high tide at bay

Venice: Venice activated its flood barriers on Monday night, for the first time this season, due to rising water levels driven by strong ‘sirocco’ winds.

Ahead of expected a high tide of more than 130 cm the canal city switched on the computerised Mose flood barrier, activating the mobile dams that separate the lagoon from the Adriatic Sea.

Forecaster expect a tide peak of 140 cm at around 22.00 on Wednesday night. However as a result of the barriers, the high tide in the city was about half a metre less than the water levels beyond the dams.

The tide level in the city peaked at 83 cm last night, leaving Piazza S. Marco partially flooded.

The Mose system is designed to largely protect Venice from tides of up to three metres.

When activated, the sluice gates rise above the water to seal off the lagoon’s three inlets at Lido, Malamocco and Chioggia.