A group of sightseers plunged into a dim and chilling canal in Venice when the gondola they were aboard capsized. The incident occurred due to their disregard of an instruction to stop taking selfies and sit down.
The gondolier, who was executing a difficult maneuver while navigating the vessel beneath a nearby bridge close to St Mark’s Square, also ended up in the water. However, he swiftly acted to rescue his passengers.
As reported by local media, the Chinese tourists were shifting their positions within the gondola, capturing selfies against the backdrop of the iconic sights of the city. It was during this time that the incident took place, which was recorded on video and widely shared online.
The gondolier had specifically requested the passengers to remain seated in order to maintain the required weight balance for maneuvering beneath the bridge. Ignoring his instructions, the tourists continued to stand and take pictures, ultimately leading to the boat’s capsizing.
An Instagram post on the page “Venezia Non è Disneyland” (Venice Is Not Disneyland), created by young Venetians to document the mishaps of tourists in the city, stated that the group was rescued and offered assistance in the nearby La Fenice theater, where they received warm hospitality.
In 2020, the association of gondoliers in Venice reduced the maximum capacity on their boats, attributing this measure to the increasing weight of tourists. The limit for a “gondola da nolo,” which provides the classic canal tour, was reduced from six to five people. Similarly, on a “gondola da parada,” mainly used for crossing the Grand Canal, the limit was decreased from 14 to 12 passengers.
Andrea Balbi, the president of Venice’s gondoliers’ association, acknowledged, “Compared to 10 or 15 years ago, tourists now have a slightly higher average weight,” in a statement to the Guardian.
In 2022, an American traveler suffered minor injuries while attempting to recover his dropped phone in the crater of Mount Vesuvius. The incident occurred when the device slipped from his hand while taking a selfie.