2009 Messina floods and mudslides

Natural disasters in Italy January 2021 Giampilieri.jpg Giampilieri after the mudslide 2009 Messina floods and mudslides 1–2 October 2009 Messina (Giampilieri Superiore, Altolia, Briga Superiore and Molino)Scaletta Zanclea At least 31 deaths6 missing 95http://www.repubblica.it/2009/09/sezioni/cronaca/maltempo-previsioni/berlusconi-messina/berlusconi-messina.html Messina, 21 le vittime accertate, 35 dispersi. Berlusconi non va per non intralciare 2009-10-02 2009-10-02 la Repubblica Italian https://web.archive.org/web/20091004215353/http://www.repubblica.it/2009/09/sezioni/cronaca/maltempo-previsioni/berlusconi-messina/berlusconi-messina.html 4 October 2009 live The 2009 Messina floods and mudslides occurred in Sicily on the night of 1–2 October, mainly along the Ionian coast in the Province of Messina. They also affected other parts of northeastern Sicily and killed a total of at least 31 people,http://www.lastampa.it/redazione/cmsSezioni/cronache/200910articoli/48040girata.asp Messina, salgono a 28 le vittime October 8, 2009 October 8, 2009 italian La Stampa https://web.archive.org/web/20091011064906/http://www.lastampa.it/redazione/cmsSezioni/cronache/200910articoli/48040girata.asp 2009-10-11 dead some of whom were swept out to sea. More than 400 people were left homeless, as many houses collapsed. The places which suffered the most damage were Giampilieri Superiore, a small it frazione 10 km 0 in south of the city of Messina, which was buried in mud; the it comune of Scaletta Zanclea and the two it frazione of Altolia, Briga Superiore.http://www.lastampa.it/redazione/_inc/infobox.asp?indirizzo=http://www.lastampa.it/redazione/cmssezioni/infografica/200910images/messina.jpg https://archive.today/20120804044348/http://www.lastampa.it/redazione/_inc/infobox.asp?indirizzo=http://www.lastampa.it/redazione/cmssezioni/infografica/200910images/messina.jpg dead 2012-08-04 Le località più colpite 2009-10-04 2009-10-04 La Stampa Italian To avoid casualties, when the Messina region received heavy rains in February 2010, the government evacuated one-third of the population most at risk. A mudslide caused property damage, but no casualties. Storm and mudslide thumb|Sicily was devastated by extreme weather.|250px|right On the night of 1–2 October 2009, a sudden downpour of rain, accompanied by strong winds and lightning, caused large mudslides through the valleys of the northeastern coast. The extreme nature of the weather gave people little time to flee buildings or vehicles; mud rapidly swept down from the surrounding hills and cliffs, clogging the streets of these towns with debris and grime, and carrying away people, cars, and dwellings.Philip Williams http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/03/2703899.htm?section=justin https://archive.today/20121231063240/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/03/2703899.htm?section=justin dead 31 December 2012 Rain brings deadly mudslides to Sicily 2009-10-03 2021-02-15 ABC News Officials reported that 9 in mm flip in of rain fell in the space of three hours. In some areas, the mud was 20 m ft in deep. The slide hit so quickly that rescuers later found many people trapped in cars and dwellings. Rail lines were covered with mud and major roads into the area were blocked. One man was found dead in his automobile, which was submerged in mud and water. Another drowned in the flooded cellar of his country home. A man choked to death after taking in mud in when the main piazza was flooded in a suburb of the city of Messina.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/oct/02/sicilian-mudslides-messina-italy Sicilian mudslides kill 13 people 2009-10-02 2009-10-02 The Guardian https://web.archive.org/web/20091005035020/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/02/sicilian-mudslides-messina-italy 5 October 2009 live A survivor recounted his escape: "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".http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/1002/breaking39.htm At least 13 dead in Italy mudslide 2009-10-02 2009-10-02 The Irish Times Cars were swept along by the mud. Many buildings collapsed; some were partially submerged by mud, and engulfed by water and debris. Some people were washed away into the Ionian Sea.TG1 Ed. 20.00 02.10 Integrale http://www.rai.tv/dl/RaiTV/programmi/media/ContentItem-bae7478f-864f-4621-a4a8-efd356651281.html Italian TG1 Rai Uno 2009-10-02 4 October 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091020041110/http://www.rai.tv/dl/RaiTV/programmi/media/ContentItem-bae7478f-864f-4621-a4a8-efd356651281.html 20 October 2009 dead Edizione Integrale Ore 20 http://www.video.mediaset.it/mplayer.html?sito=tg5&data=2009/10/02&id=39567&from=link Italian TG5 Canale 5 2009-10-02 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090519093436/http://www.video.mediaset.it/mplayer.html?sito=tg5 2009-05-19 At least 100 people evacuated their houses following mudslides.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8286538.stm Italy mudslide death toll rises 2009-10-02 2009-10-02 BBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20091002100736/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8286538.stm 2 October 2009 live As of 8 October, seven people were still missing, and at least 450 inhabitants of the it comuni were left homeless by the 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 standing rainwater. Parts of Sicily were inaccessible for days. The Italian government declared a state of emergency to mobilize emergency rescue and recovery forces.http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1002/sicily.html Landslides kill 18 in Sicily 2009-10-02 2009-10-02 RTÉ News and Current Affairs https://web.archive.org/web/20091005073510/http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1002/sicily.html 5 October 2009 livehttp://www.ansa.it/site/notizie/awnplus/english/news/2009-10-02_102394687.html Violent flooding rocks Messina 2009-10-02 2009-10-02 ANSA October 2010 H3llBot It was the worst landslide disaster in Italy since 1998 during which 137 people died in Sarno, near Naples.Nick Squires https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/6255575/Sicily-mudslide-leaves-scores-dead.html# Sicily mudslide leaves scores dead 2009-10-02 2009-10-02 The Daily Telegraph https://web.archive.org/web/20091006082824/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/6255575/Sicily-mudslide-leaves-scores-dead.html 6 October 2009 liveItalian http://www.adnkronos.com/IGN/News/Cronaca/Dallalluvione-di-Firenze-alla-frana-di-Sarno-tutti-i-precedenti-della-tragedia-siciliana_3835424161.html Dall'alluvione di Firenze alla frana di Sarno, tutti i precedenti della tragedia di Messina 2009-10-02 2009-10-07 Adnkronos The death toll was expected to rise. The Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, said that it could be as high as fifty.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8288629.stm Italy mudslide deaths 'to hit 50' 2009-10-03 2009-10-03 BBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20091006085102/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8288629.stm 6 October 2009 live Aid Many survivors fled to rooftops, where a helicopter lifted them to safety. The first batch of evacuees escaped aboard boats; they were taken to the mainland or safe areas by rescue helicopters. Emergency crews dug through mud and used search dogs in an effort to find survivors. The mud covered roads and disrupted assistance efforts, as many rescue crews had to enter areas on foot. Medical teams were rushed to the scene. Bulldozers were also deployed. One rescue worker described it as "hell".Lucy Bannerman https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/europe-travel/italy/mudslides-in-messina-kill-13-after-heavy-rain-ff8k2twzws8 Mudslides in Messina kill 13 after heavy rain 2009-10-03 2021-02-15 The Times Many survivors sought refuge in a convent. The railway line connecting Messina to the resort town of Taormina was blocked by debris and mud. Damage extended to the capital Palermo, where a hospital was partially flooded, and people were found trapped in their vehicles.http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2009/10/20091021421972343.html# Deadly mudslides hit Italian island 2009-10-02 2009-10-02 Al Jazeera English https://web.archive.org/web/20091003100450/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2009/10/20091021421972343.html 3 October 2009 live Giampilieri Superiore, a small it frazione 10 km 0 in south of the city of Messina, was totally buried in mud; the it comune of Scaletta Zanclea; and the it frazione of Briga Superiore also suffered extensive, irreparable damage. Reactions An investigation into the "culpable disaster" was quickly underway.http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-10/03/content_12175458.htm Floods strike Italian town, state of emergency declared 2009-10-03 2009-10-03 Xinhua News Agency https://web.archive.org/web/20091007142548/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-10/03/content_12175458.htm 7 October 2009 dead The origins of this environmental disaster are believed to result from a lack of forestation in the hills and lower valleys, caused by annual summer brushfires. In addition, according to Guido Bertolaso, director of the Italian Civil Protection Service, illegal construction without permits and in defiance of zoning regulations is widespread in Sicily; many lost homes were built illegally too close to or blocking known torrent beds, creating drainage problems.Jessica Donati, "Mudslides Kill at Least 18 in Eastern Sicily", New York Times, 2 October 2009, accessed 22 November 2012 Residents accused the local administration for having failed to secure the nearby hills from the risk of landslides, following mudslides that occurred in October 2007. These had caused property damage but no casualties.http://www.ilgiornale.it/interni/messina_tragedia_vergogna_i_lavori_anti-alluvione_fermi_anni/03-10-2009/articolo-id=387717-page=0-comments=0 Messina, la tragedia della vergogna I lavori anti-alluvione fermi da anni 2009-10-03 2009-10-05 il Giornale Italian Messina, the tragedy of shame/Anti-flood works standing still for yearsEdizione Integrale Ore 20 http://www.video.mediaset.it/mplayer.html?sito=tg5&data=2009/10/03&id=39590&from=link Italian TG5 Canale 5 2009-10-03 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090519093436/http://www.video.mediaset.it/mplayer.html?sito=tg5 2009-05-19 President 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".https://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL2186444 Sicilian storm kills 18, dozens hurt or missing 2009-10-02 2021-02-05 Reuters Aftermath As of 4 October, many bodies still have not been recovered from the mud and debris.http://www.lastampa.it/redazione/cmsSezioni/cronache/200910articoli/47911girata.asp Si scava nel fango, decine di dispersi 2009-10-04 2009-10-04 La Stampa Italian https://web.archive.org/web/20091005074823/http://www.lastampa.it/redazione/cmsSezioni/cronache/200910articoli/47911girata.asp 2009-10-05 dead 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 Uno news reporter as "apocalyptic".TG1 ed 13.30 04.10 Integrale http://www.rai.tv/dl/RaiTV/programmi/media/ContentItem-48317084-f53a-467c-a7cc-8ee31d8e125f.html Italian TG1 Rai Uno 2009-10-04 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20091007000311/http://www.rai.tv/dl/RaiTV/programmi/media/ContentItem-48317084-f53a-467c-a7cc-8ee31d8e125f.html 2009-10-07 As of 6 October, Director of the Civil Defence Guido Bertolaso amended the number of missing people from 37 to nine. Officials thought some bodies of victims might never be recovered.TG2 ore 10:30 del 06/10/2009 http://www.rai.tv/dl/RaiTV/programmi/media/ContentItem-2e8fea9e-7f14-4261-9774-d1b2166e1142.html Italian TG2 Rai Due 2009-10-06 On 10 October 2009, a state funeral was held for the victims at the Cathedral of Messina. It was televised so that the nation could bear witness. When heavy rains struck the region of Messina in February 2010, the government evacuated one-third of the population most at risk by 14 February. A large mudslide destroyed some houses, but caused no casualties. Images See also 2009 Brazilian floods and mudslides 2009 Salvador floods and mudslides References External links In pictures: Italy mudslide rescue at the BBC News website. Category:2009 floods in Europe Category:2009 natural disasters 2009 Messina Category:Disasters in Sicily Category:History of Messina Category:2009 disasters in Italy Messina Category:2000s in Sicily