VENICE — On Wednesday night, Venice suffered the worst flooding in half a century. The sirens start when the water rises to 110 centimeters (3 feet 6 inches) above sea level. Up to 140 centimeters (4 feet 5 inches) is considered manageable; shopkeepers know they have to elevate their merchandise and electrical appliances. Our social media was bursting with alarming reports: Water had risen to a calamitous 160 centimeters (5 feet 2 inches) above sea level. Then it rose to 170 centimeters (5 feet 5 inches) and then to 180 centimeters (5 feet 9 inches).

Source: New York Times November 16, 2019 00:00 UTC