2009 Messina floods and mudslides
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Messina floods and mudslides which occurred on the night of 1–2 October killed at least 31 people, mainly on the Ionian coast
in the Province of Messina
but also affected other parts of northeastern Sicily
. The places which suffered the most damage were Giampilieri Superiore
, a small 10 kilometres south of the city of Messina, the of Scaletta Zanclea
, and the of Briga Superiore
.
A state of emergency was declared by the Italian government. It is the worst landslide disaster in Italy since 1998 during which 137 people died in Sarno
, near Naples
. The death toll is expected to rise. Italian Prime Minister
Silvio Berlusconi
claimed it could be as high as fifty.
On the night of 1–2 October 2009, a sudden downpour of rain, accompanied by strong winds and lightning, provoked devastating mudslides; which combined with the extreme nature of the weather meant people had little time to flee buildings or vehicles as mud swept down from the surrounding hills and cliffs clogging the streets with debris and grime, carrying away people, cars, and dwellings. It was believed that nine inches of rain fell in a space of three hours.
One of the dead was submerged in mud and water as he sat in his automobile. One man was drowned in the flooded cellar of his country home. Another man choked to death after swallowing mud on the main piazza in a suburb of Messina.
One survivor commented on his escape from his submerged vehicle: "I was driving home when suddenly all this stuff came down on top of me and hit me full on. I managed to climb out of the car. It was a terrible experience". Cars were swept along by the mud. Many buildings collapsed; some were partially submerged by mud, and engulfed by water and debris. People were washed away into the Ionian Sea
. At least 100 people evacuated their houses following mudslides.
One rescue worker described it as "hell". Many survivors sought refuge in a convent. The railway line which connects the city of Messina to the resort town of Taormina
was blocked by debris and mud.
A hospital in the capital Palermo
was partially flooded and people were found trapped in their vehicles.
Giorgio Napolitano
said: "We need a serious investment plan to increase safety — rather than grandiose public works — in this part of the country, or else tragedies like this one will happen again".
An Italian meteorologist has described the storm as being a tropical-like cyclone (TLC).
news reporter as "apocalyptic". As of 6 October, Director of the Civil Defence Guido Bertolaso amended the number of missing people from 37 to nine. It is uncertain as to whether all of the bodies of the victims will ever be recovered.
On Saturday morning, 10 October, a televised state funeral was held for the victims at the Cathedral of Messina.
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
in the Province of Messina
Province of Messina
Messina is a province in the autonomous island region of Sicily in Italy. Its capital is the city of Messina.-Geography and demography :...
but also affected other parts of northeastern Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
. The places which suffered the most damage were Giampilieri Superiore
Giampilieri Superiore
Giampilieri Superiore is a of the of Messina in the Province of Messina, Sicily, southern Italy. It stands at an elevation of 75 metres above sea level. At the time of the Istat census of 2001 it had 1800 inhabitants....
, a small 10 kilometres south of the city of Messina, the of Scaletta Zanclea
Scaletta Zanclea
Scaletta Zanclea is a comune in the Province of Messina in the Italian region Sicily, located about 180 km east of Palermo and about 15 km southwest of Messina....
, and the of Briga Superiore
Briga Superiore
Briga Superiore is a of the of Messina in the Province of Messina, Sicily, southern Italy. It stands at an elevation of 50 metres above sea level. At the time of the Istat census of 2001 it had 215 inhabitants....
.
Destruction
As of 8 October seven people are still missing and at least 450 inhabitants of the were left homeless by the sudden extreme weather. 40 wounded people were hospitalised, at least two of these were said to have serious injuries. Messina has been surrounded by mud and rainwater. Parts of Sicily are still inaccessible.A state of emergency was declared by the Italian government. It is the worst landslide disaster in Italy since 1998 during which 137 people died in Sarno
Sarno
Sarno is a town and comune of Campania, Italy, in the province of Salerno, 20 km northeast from the city of Salerno and 60 km east of Naples by the main railway.-Overview:...
, near Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
. The death toll is expected to rise. Italian Prime Minister
Prime minister of Italy
The Prime Minister of Italy is the head of government of the Italian Republic...
Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi , also known as Il Cavaliere – from knighthood to the Order of Merit for Labour which he received in 1977 – is an Italian politician and businessman who served three terms as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. Berlusconi is also the...
claimed it could be as high as fifty.
On the night of 1–2 October 2009, a sudden downpour of rain, accompanied by strong winds and lightning, provoked devastating mudslides; which combined with the extreme nature of the weather meant people had little time to flee buildings or vehicles as mud swept down from the surrounding hills and cliffs clogging the streets with debris and grime, carrying away people, cars, and dwellings. It was believed that nine inches of rain fell in a space of three hours.
One of the dead was submerged in mud and water as he sat in his automobile. One man was drowned in the flooded cellar of his country home. Another man choked to death after swallowing mud on the main piazza in a suburb of Messina.
One survivor commented on his escape from his submerged vehicle: "I was driving home when suddenly all this stuff came down on top of me and hit me full on. I managed to climb out of the car. It was a terrible experience". Cars were swept along by the mud. Many buildings collapsed; some were partially submerged by mud, and engulfed by water and debris. People were washed away into the Ionian Sea
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
. At least 100 people evacuated their houses following mudslides.
Aid
Many fled to rooftops where a helicopter lifted them to safety. The first batch of evacuees escaped aboard boats and then helicopters. Survivors are being sought as emergency crews dig through the mud. Assistance efforts have been disrupted by the mud, with rescue crews attending the scene on foot. Dogs are being used to find survivors. Medical teams were rushed to the scene. Bulldozers were also deployed.One rescue worker described it as "hell". Many survivors sought refuge in a convent. The railway line which connects the city of Messina to the resort town of Taormina
Taormina
Taormina is a comune and small town on the east coast of the island of Sicily, Italy, in the Province of Messina, about midway between Messina and Catania. Taormina has been a very popular tourist destination since the 19th century...
was blocked by debris and mud.
A hospital in the capital Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
was partially flooded and people were found trapped in their vehicles.
Reactions
An investigation into the "culpable disaster" was quickly underway. The origins of this tragedy probably lie in the lack of forestation caused by annual summer brushfires and in the locations where the houses were built — some of them near a torrent bed — although there are angry accusations against the local administration, for having failed to secure the nearby hills from the risk of landslides, following the mudslides in October 2007 which had caused damage but no casualties. PresidentPresident of the Italian Republic
The President of the Italian Republic is the head of state of Italy and, as such, is intended to represent national unity and guarantee that Italian politics comply with the Constitution. The president's term of office lasts for seven years....
Giorgio Napolitano
Giorgio Napolitano
Giorgio Napolitano is an Italian politician who has been the 11th President of Italy since 2006. A long-time member of the Italian Communist Party and later the Democrats of the Left, he served as President of the Chamber of Deputies from 1992 to 1994 and as Minister of the Interior from 1996 to...
said: "We need a serious investment plan to increase safety — rather than grandiose public works — in this part of the country, or else tragedies like this one will happen again".
An Italian meteorologist has described the storm as being a tropical-like cyclone (TLC).
Aftermath
As of 4 October, many bodies still have not been recovered from the mud and debris. Some of the victims were small children. Silvio Berlusconi visited the afflicted areas on 4 October and met with some of the people left homeless by the disaster. The scenes have been described by a Rai UnoRai Uno
Rai 1 is the primary television station of RAI, the national public service broadcaster, and the most watched television channel in Italy. It was born as Rai Tv from 1954 to 1961, called Programma Nazionale from 1961 to 1979, after called Rete 1 from 1979 to 1982, then called Rai Uno from 1982 to...
news reporter as "apocalyptic". As of 6 October, Director of the Civil Defence Guido Bertolaso amended the number of missing people from 37 to nine. It is uncertain as to whether all of the bodies of the victims will ever be recovered.
On Saturday morning, 10 October, a televised state funeral was held for the victims at the Cathedral of Messina.
External links
- In pictures: Italy mudslide rescue at the BBC NewsBBC NewsBBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
website.