412:
400:
388:
376:
29:
206:
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". Cars were swept along by the mud. Many buildings collapsed; some were partially submerged by mud, and engulfed
254:
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
183:
198:
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
194:
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
321:
An investigation into the "culpable disaster" was quickly underway. 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
347:
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
195:
surrounding hills and cliffs, clogging the streets of these towns with debris and grime, and carrying away people, cars, and dwellings. Officials reported that 230 mm (9 inches) of rain fell in the space of three hours. In some areas, the mud was 20 m (66 feet) deep.
329:
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.
352:
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. Officials thought some bodies of victims might never be recovered.
530:
363:
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.
326:, 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.
222:
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
173:
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.
125:. They also affected other parts of northeastern Sicily and killed a total of at least 31 people, some of whom were swept out to sea. More than 400 people were left homeless, as many houses collapsed.
399:
230:
The
Italian government declared a state of emergency to mobilize emergency rescue and recovery forces. It was the worst landslide disaster in Italy since 1998 during which 137 people died in
505:
323:
998:
615:
339:
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".
1059:
540:
1191:
786:
411:
1159:
463:
761:
950:
495:
870:
605:
1117:
845:
1221:
1207:
802:
1101:
829:
906:
1300:
1034:
656:
255:
and disrupted assistance efforts, as many rescue crews had to enter areas on foot. Medical teams were rushed to the scene.
691:
431:
976:
436:
199:
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
1169:
473:
333:
1295:
1275:
972:
751:
687:
1270:
387:
1285:
942:
568:
718:
1290:
375:
878:
1280:
239:
1084:
1062:[Messina, the tragedy of shame/Anti-flood works standing still for years] (in Italian).
999:"Dall'alluvione di Firenze alla frana di Sarno, tutti i precedenti della tragedia di Messina"
280:
129:
84:
1131:
573:
357:
277:, where a hospital was partially flooded, and people were found trapped in their vehicles.
865:
863:
861:
859:
857:
855:
8:
610:
122:
946:
874:
852:
336:
496:"Messina, 21 le vittime accertate, 35 dispersi. Berlusconi non va per non intralciare"
214:
As of 8 October, seven people were still missing, and at least 450 inhabitants of the
243:
300:
153:
101:
96:
291:
10 km (6 miles) south of the city of
Messina, was totally buried in mud; the
723:
310:
187:
167:
92:
1250:
1024:
900:
898:
896:
683:
646:
1124:
1264:
893:
500:
262:
One rescue worker described it as "hell". Many survivors sought refuge in a
1060:"Messina, la tragedia della vergogna I lavori anti-alluvione fermi da anni"
756:
1063:
1017:
562:
560:
558:
208:
118:
937:
935:
933:
931:
929:
1164:
1002:
911:
555:
535:
468:
256:
713:
711:
709:
599:
597:
595:
593:
591:
356:
On 10 October 2009, a state funeral was held for the victims at the
182:
1254:
1112:
1029:
926:
840:
746:
744:
742:
651:
286:
267:
135:
211:. At least 100 people evacuated their houses following mudslides.
1232:
1202:
1136:
797:
706:
641:
639:
637:
635:
633:
588:
418:
349:
274:
263:
200:
163:
141:
88:
80:
739:
294:
235:
224:
217:
147:
114:
1085:
Jessica Donati, "Mudslides Kill at Least 18 in
Eastern Sicily"
965:
678:
676:
674:
630:
405:
Between
Scaletta Zanclea and Giampilieri Marina, on 15 October
28:
231:
266:. The railway line connecting Messina to the resort town of
671:
207:
by water and debris. Some people were washed away into the
360:. It was televised so that the nation could bear witness.
1226:
1196:
1106:
871:"Floods strike Italian town, state of emergency declared"
834:
791:
525:
523:
520:
238:. The death toll was expected to rise. The Italian
1132:"Sicilian storm kills 18, dozens hurt or missing"
1262:
907:"Mudslides in Messina kill 13 after heavy rain"
824:
822:
820:
781:
779:
566:
128:The places which suffered the most damage were
904:
117:on the night of 1–2 October, mainly along the
313:also suffered extensive, irreparable damage.
304:
292:
284:
215:
157:
145:
133:
1214:
1184:
1168:(in Italian). 4 October 2009. Archived from
1094:
817:
776:
603:
539:(in Italian). 4 October 2009. Archived from
472:(in Italian). 8 October 2009. Archived from
1091:, 2 October 2009, accessed 22 November 2012
458:
456:
454:
452:
1054:
1052:
246:, said that it could be as high as fifty.
140:10 km (6 miles) south of the city of
27:
1160:"Si scava nel fango, decine di dispersi"
569:"Rain brings deadly mudslides to Sicily"
449:
181:
1049:
1263:
1078:
488:
943:"Deadly mudslides hit Italian island"
177:
719:"At least 13 dead in Italy mudslide"
606:"Sicily mudslide leaves scores dead"
1037:from the original on 6 October 2009
1025:"Italy mudslide deaths 'to hit 50'"
953:from the original on 3 October 2009
764:from the original on 5 October 2009
752:"Sicilian mudslides kill 13 people"
694:from the original on 5 October 2009
659:from the original on 2 October 2009
618:from the original on 6 October 2009
508:from the original on 4 October 2009
432:2009 Brazilian floods and mudslides
393:One of the hills after the mudslide
13:
1251:In pictures: Italy mudslide rescue
567:Philip Williams (3 October 2009).
464:"Messina, salgono a 28 le vittime"
437:2009 Salvador floods and mudslides
14:
1312:
1244:
905:Lucy Bannerman (3 October 2009).
647:"Italy mudslide death toll rises"
111:2009 Messina floods and mudslides
22:2009 Messina floods and mudslides
973:"Violent flooding rocks Messina"
877:. 3 October 2009. Archived from
410:
398:
386:
374:
324:Italian Civil Protection Service
1152:
991:
787:"TG1 Ed. 20.00 02.10 Integrale"
604:Nick Squires (2 October 2009).
273:Damage extended to the capital
270:was blocked by debris and mud.
144:, which was buried in mud; the
1230:(in Italian). 6 October 2009.
1222:"TG2 ore 10:30 del 06/10/2009"
1200:(in Italian). 4 October 2009.
1192:"TG1 ed 13.30 04.10 Integrale"
1110:(in Italian). 3 October 2009.
838:(in Italian). 2 October 2009.
795:(in Italian). 2 October 2009.
684:"Landslides kill 18 in Sicily"
504:(in Italian). 2 October 2009.
33:Giampilieri after the mudslide
1:
442:
1301:October 2009 events in Italy
688:RTÉ News and Current Affairs
381:Train station in Giampilieri
342:
316:
227:were inaccessible for days.
7:
1102:"Edizione Integrale Ore 20"
830:"Edizione Integrale Ore 20"
425:
10:
1317:
16:Natural disasters in Italy
531:"Le località più colpite"
367:
186:Sicily was devastated by
76:
68:
58:
53:
45:
38:
26:
1296:2009 disasters in Italy
1276:2009 natural disasters
305:
293:
285:
249:
216:
191:
158:
146:
134:
40:Meteorological history
1271:2009 floods in Europe
281:Giampilieri Superiore
185:
130:Giampilieri Superiore
85:Giampilieri Superiore
358:Cathedral of Messina
259:were also deployed.
1286:Disasters in Sicily
611:The Daily Telegraph
123:Province of Messina
23:
1210:on 7 October 2009.
1033:. 3 October 2009.
949:. 2 October 2009.
947:Al Jazeera English
875:Xinhua News Agency
805:on 20 October 2009
760:. 2 October 2009.
690:. 2 October 2009.
655:. 2 October 2009.
476:on 11 October 2009
337:Giorgio Napolitano
192:
178:Storm and mudslide
62:At least 31 deaths
21:
1291:Events in Messina
1172:on 5 October 2009
881:on 7 October 2009
244:Silvio Berlusconi
107:
106:
1308:
1238:
1237:
1218:
1212:
1211:
1206:. Archived from
1188:
1182:
1181:
1179:
1177:
1156:
1150:
1149:
1147:
1145:
1140:. 2 October 2009
1128:
1122:
1121:
1116:. Archived from
1098:
1092:
1082:
1076:
1075:
1073:
1071:
1066:. 3 October 2009
1056:
1047:
1046:
1044:
1042:
1021:
1015:
1014:
1012:
1010:
1005:. 2 October 2009
995:
989:
988:
986:
984:
979:. 2 October 2009
969:
963:
962:
960:
958:
939:
924:
923:
921:
919:
902:
891:
890:
888:
886:
867:
850:
849:
844:. Archived from
826:
815:
814:
812:
810:
801:. Archived from
783:
774:
773:
771:
769:
748:
737:
736:
734:
732:
727:. 2 October 2009
715:
704:
703:
701:
699:
680:
669:
668:
666:
664:
643:
628:
627:
625:
623:
601:
586:
585:
583:
581:
564:
553:
552:
550:
548:
543:on 4 August 2012
527:
518:
517:
515:
513:
492:
486:
485:
483:
481:
460:
417:Chasm opened in
414:
402:
390:
378:
308:
301:Scaletta Zanclea
298:
290:
221:
161:
154:Scaletta Zanclea
151:
139:
102:Scaletta Zanclea
49:1–2 October 2009
41:
31:
24:
20:
1316:
1315:
1311:
1310:
1309:
1307:
1306:
1305:
1281:Floods in Italy
1261:
1260:
1247:
1242:
1241:
1220:
1219:
1215:
1190:
1189:
1185:
1175:
1173:
1158:
1157:
1153:
1143:
1141:
1130:
1129:
1125:
1120:on 19 May 2009.
1100:
1099:
1095:
1083:
1079:
1069:
1067:
1058:
1057:
1050:
1040:
1038:
1023:
1022:
1018:
1008:
1006:
997:
996:
992:
982:
980:
971:
970:
966:
956:
954:
941:
940:
927:
917:
915:
903:
894:
884:
882:
869:
868:
853:
848:on 19 May 2009.
828:
827:
818:
808:
806:
785:
784:
777:
767:
765:
750:
749:
740:
730:
728:
724:The Irish Times
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345:
319:
311:Briga Superiore
252:
188:extreme weather
180:
168:Briga Superiore
100:
93:Briga Superiore
63:
54:Overall effects
39:
34:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1314:
1304:
1303:
1298:
1293:
1288:
1283:
1278:
1273:
1259:
1258:
1246:
1245:External links
1243:
1240:
1239:
1213:
1183:
1151:
1123:
1093:
1089:New York Times
1077:
1048:
1016:
1001:(in Italian).
990:
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816:
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240:Prime Minister
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77:Areas affected
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501:la Repubblica
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52:
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44:
37:
30:
25:
19:
1231:
1225:
1216:
1208:the original
1201:
1195:
1186:
1174:. Retrieved
1170:the original
1163:
1154:
1142:. Retrieved
1135:
1126:
1118:the original
1111:
1105:
1096:
1088:
1080:
1068:. Retrieved
1039:. Retrieved
1028:
1019:
1007:. Retrieved
993:
981:. Retrieved
967:
955:. Retrieved
916:. Retrieved
910:
883:. Retrieved
879:the original
846:the original
839:
833:
807:. Retrieved
803:the original
796:
790:
766:. Retrieved
757:The Guardian
755:
729:. Retrieved
722:
696:. Retrieved
661:. Retrieved
650:
620:. Retrieved
609:
578:. Retrieved
572:
545:. Retrieved
541:the original
534:
510:. Retrieved
499:
490:
478:. Retrieved
474:the original
467:
362:
355:
346:
332:
328:
320:
279:
272:
261:
253:
229:
213:
205:
197:
193:
172:
156:and the two
127:
119:Ionian coast
113:occurred in
110:
108:
18:
1064:il Giornale
918:15 February
580:15 February
1265:Categories
1144:5 February
443:References
303:; and the
283:, a small
257:Bulldozers
209:Ionian Sea
132:, a small
59:Fatalities
1176:4 October
1165:La Stampa
1070:5 October
1041:3 October
1009:7 October
1003:Adnkronos
983:2 October
957:2 October
912:The Times
885:3 October
809:4 October
768:2 October
731:2 October
698:2 October
663:2 October
622:2 October
547:4 October
536:La Stampa
512:2 October
480:8 October
469:La Stampa
343:Aftermath
334:President
317:Reactions
64:6 missing
1257:website.
1255:BBC News
1113:Canale 5
1035:Archived
1030:BBC News
951:Archived
841:Canale 5
762:Archived
692:Archived
657:Archived
652:BBC News
616:Archived
574:ABC News
506:Archived
426:See also
306:frazione
287:frazione
268:Taormina
159:frazione
136:frazione
69:Injuries
46:Duration
1253:at the
1233:Rai Due
1203:Rai Uno
1137:Reuters
798:Rai Uno
419:Altolia
350:Rai Uno
275:Palermo
264:convent
234:, near
201:Messina
164:Altolia
142:Messina
121:in the
89:Altolia
81:Messina
368:Images
295:comune
236:Naples
225:Sicily
218:comuni
148:comune
115:Sicily
97:Molino
232:Sarno
1178:2009
1146:2021
1072:2009
1043:2009
1011:2009
985:2009
977:ANSA
959:2009
920:2021
887:2009
811:2009
770:2009
733:2009
700:2009
665:2009
624:2009
582:2021
549:2009
514:2009
482:2009
109:The
95:and
1227:TG2
1197:TG1
1107:TG5
835:TG5
792:TG1
309:of
299:of
250:Aid
162:of
152:of
1267::
1224:.
1194:.
1162:.
1134:.
1104:.
1087:,
1051:^
1027:.
975:.
945:.
928:^
909:.
895:^
873:.
854:^
832:.
819:^
789:.
778:^
754:.
741:^
721:.
708:^
686:.
673:^
649:.
632:^
614:.
608:.
590:^
571:.
557:^
533:.
522:^
498:.
466:.
451:^
242:,
203:.
170:.
166:,
91:,
87:,
72:95
1236:.
1180:.
1148:.
1074:.
1045:.
1013:.
987:.
961:.
922:.
889:.
813:.
772:.
735:.
702:.
667:.
626:.
584:.
551:.
516:.
484:.
190:.
99:)
83:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
