There is no peace for Southern Italy: landslides and floods in Calabria and Sicily due to heavy rains

There is no respite for Southern Italy, once again lashed by the heavy rainfall that has hit Calabria and Sicily in the last few hours, triggering a series of emergencies along various provinces. Landslides, landslides, floods and flooding are creating inconveniences to traffic and have required the urgent intervention of the Fire Brigade, Civil Protection and specialized teams. Let’s see in detail what happened and the territories involved.

Landslides and blocked roads in Savoca and Motta Camastra in the Messina area

The intense rainfall caused landslides and mudslides in various areas of Sicily, with particularly serious effects in the municipality of Savoca, in the province of Messina. Since late yesterday afternoon, a mass of mud and debris has overwhelmed the main road, hitting a fortunately empty van. To exclude risks for any people involved, dog teams and the GOS unit were activated, supported by excavators to remove the debris. The firefighters of Messina and Enna are working tirelessly to reopen the roads.

In Motta Camastra, on Provincial Road n. 6, the collapse of the road surface over approximately 40 meters made it necessary to immediately close to traffic, while landslides, erosion and flooding have been reported throughout the Metropolitan City of Messina along various arteries, from the SP 96 of Novara di Sicilia to the SP 11 of Mongiuffi Melia.

Evacuations in Calabria

Also in Calabria, heavy rains have put numerous communities in difficulty. In the Cosentino area, the historic center of Crosia suffered a landslide which required the evacuation of around 80 people, while the Trionto and Fiumarella rivers caused flooding in the hamlet of Mirto.

In Cardeto, however, a man was trapped with his tractor in the bed of the Sant’Agata stream during the flood. The Fire Brigade, thanks to a coordinated intervention and the use of a cableway, managed to save him together with the rescuers involved, avoiding serious consequences.

Traffic interrupted and widespread damage

The effects of the intense rain were also felt on the traffic level: the Strada Statale 106 Jonica was closed for two kilometers in the Toscano area, in the Corigliano Rossano area, with rescue operations for several stranded motorists.

In the Vibonese area, the municipalities of Gerocarne and Monterosso Calabro recorded landslides that interrupted some provincial roads, while in Sorianello a house remained isolated due to the collapse of the access road and another landslide blocked Via Roma.

The regional Civil Protection, based on Arpacal’s forecasts, has issued a yellow alert and continues to monitor the waterways and areas at risk, with technical staff and volunteers ready to intervene to limit the damage and guarantee the safety of the population. The authorities recommend maximum attention when traveling, avoiding the most exposed sections and following the instructions of the operating structures.

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