Tourists with scheduled departures rushed to grab the last water taxis to get to the mainland Sunday before service was interrupted in anticipation of the high tide.

By late Saturday morning, water was rising again in St. Mark’s Square and the forecast for Sunday was worse. The tide was expected to peak at 1.15 meters above sea level on Saturday at noon.

"We ask the government to help us. The cost will be high. This is the result of climate change," he said on Twitter.