The Armenian St. Lazarus Island in the Venetian Lagoon was affected as the highest tide in more than 50 years hit parts of Venice.
The waters peaked at 1.87m, according to the tide monitoring center. Only once since records began in 1923 has the tide been higher, reaching 1.94m in 1966.
Father Hamazasp Kechichian from the Mkhitarist School says the ground floors were left flooded. The Armenia sailboat harbored at the bay near the monastery was also damaged.
He also informed that the library, art gallery and depository of manuscripts were all safe.
St Mark’s Square – one of the lowest parts of Venice – was one of the worst hit areas. St Mark’s Basilica was flooded for the sixth time in 1,200 years, according to records.
Two people died on the island of Pellestrina, a thin strip of land that separates the Venice lagoon from the Adriatic Sea. A man was electrocuted as he tried to start a pump in his home and a second person was found dead elsewhere.
