A serious incident occurred on February 8th in Venice's Grand Canal when the 'Alilaguna' ferry experienced a mechanical failure and collided with two gondolas. Local media reported that the ferry, which operates between Venice and Marco Polo Airport, lost the ability to change gears, rendering it uncontrollable. Videos captured the moments when tourists and a gondolier fell into the cold water amidst the chaos of the ferry sailing towards the historic canal.

As the uncontrolled ferry maneuvered to avoid crashing into two police boats that had noticed the problem and began following it, it ended up scraping against the arch of the Rialto Bridge before crashing into the Fondaco dei Tedeschi dock. The unfortunate events led to an emergency situation where passengers from the gondolas, which were carrying tourists, fell into the water, stirring concerns about safety on the canals of Venice.

This incident highlights the potential dangers of water transportation in tourist hotspots like Venice, where mechanical failures could lead to severe accidents. It raises questions regarding the maintenance of public transport vessels and the protocols in place to ensure passenger safety in emergency situations. Authorities are likely to investigate this incident further to prevent future occurrences.