The civil protection department of the Sicilian Region has issued the new bulletin for the meteorological-hydrogeological and hydraulic risk which foresees a red alert for tomorrow throughout eastern Sicily from the province of Messina to that of Ragusa, including Catania and Syracuse.
«Gasty winds from the eastern quadrants persist – says the Civil Protection – with intensification up to strong gale with storm gusts and strong sea storms on the exposed coasts; widespread rainfall, including downpours or thunderstorms, especially in eastern and southern areas with very high cumulative quantities. Phenomena with heavy showers, frequent electrical activity and local hailstorms.”
«We have put in place what is necessary to deal with the wave of bad weather in Sicily, with the peak expected between tonight and tomorrow, especially on the eastern side. As a precaution, around ten homes and a nursing home were evacuated along the coasts of the Messina, Catania and Syracuse areas where waves up to 7 meters high are expected. There are thousands of people mobilised, including law enforcement, firefighters, the Red Cross, Civil Protection staff and volunteers” explained the director of the Sicilian Civil Protection, Salvo Cocina, who speaks of a “serious weather scenario”.
«We issued the pre-alert already last Friday, we invited the mayors to adopt the measures within their competence, including the blocking of coastal roads – adds Cocina – There are 100 Municipalities that have opened the operational centers and 80 those that have ordered the closure of schools for tomorrow. Each administration is then adopting further measures based on territorial risks. We have held meetings with the prefects of the island following input from the President of the Region Renato Schifani who is following the evolution of the situation.”
Furthermore, after yesterday’s magnitude 4.0 earthquake in the province of Messina, other tremors were recorded this morning and the Civil Protection issued a notice to the mayors to check for any damage to buildings and schools.
190 evacuated to Messina and Catania
As a precaution, the DRPC urged mayors to issue evacuation orders in several territories, for a combined total of 190 people:
•Giampilieri Marina (ME): 32 guests of the RSA Villa Aurora, located in the seafront area, evacuated. In detail: 12 people transferred to the Municipality of Itala; 6 people welcomed in another municipal facility; 14 guests accommodated with relatives.
•Acireale (CT): the Mayor has ordered the removal of 95 residents in the coastal hamlets of Capo Mulini: 42 people in via Rapallo and 52 people in via Garitta; Santa Maria La Scala: 1 person with disabilities evacuated.
•Riposto (CT): 3 people evacuated from homes in coastal areas.
•Pachino, Marzamemi and Granelli district (SR): The Mayor ordered the eviction of homes: 40 people voluntarily left Marzamemi and another 20 from Granelli district. Further evacuees after the order will be communicated once the operation is concluded. Possible further evacuations are underway.
In the provinces of Ragusa, Syracuse and Palermo there are no significant structural criticalities; punctual interventions were carried out to remove fallen trees and restore dry stone walls damaged by wind and storms.
200 COCs activated and around 150 schools closed
Around 200 Municipalities in Sicily have activated Municipal Operations Centers (COC) in order to guarantee the coordination of forces in the field, the strengthening of prevention actions and the constant monitoring of points at hydraulic risk, so as to promptly identify any flooding and adopt the necessary mitigation measures. Of them, approximately 150 have issued school closure orders. The staff of the Civil Protection Department involved amount to around 200 units, around 1000 volunteers and around 5000 staff units from the municipalities, fire brigade, forestry and other regional and state operational structures.
Trains rescheduled: several lines suspended
Following the weather warning from the Regional Civil Protection, which includes Red and Orange Alerts for a large part of the region for tomorrow, railway traffic in Sicily will be affected by some changes. Traffic will be suspended on the Siracusa-Caltanissetta line and on the Catania-Caltagirone line. Changes are expected to the railway offer on the Messina-Catania-Syracuse, Catania-Palermo and Piraineto-Trapani lines.
Special observed Ionian zone: limitations and provisions
Schools closed tomorrow, while villas, parks and sports facilities will most likely be off limits even the day after tomorrow. On the basis of regional civil protection bulletins, many mayors of eastern Sicily signed ordinances in anticipation of the arrival of the cyclone.
The greatest alarm along the coast of Messina, where the managers of the bathing establishments have created barriers with the sand from the beaches.
In Taormina tomorrow schools will be closed and the Mazzeo seafront closed to traffic. In Giardini Naxos the shops will also be closed tomorrow, the ordinance of the vice mayor, Gioacchino Castronovo, provides for a ban on transit on the seafront in the stretches of Calcide Eubea, Schisò, Tysandros, IV Novembre and Regina Margherita.
From 7pm today the mayor of Letojanni, Alessandro Costa, has arranged for the closure of the road that runs along the sea and of commercial activities including the post office, as well as schools. Even in Furci the municipal administration has banned transit on the seafront.
The bad weather situation, in fact, could worsen in the next few hours, especially in the villages in the southern area of Messina and, as mentioned, in the municipalities of the Ionian area of Messina.
In light of these forecasts, the closure of schools in the thirty municipalities between Scaletta Zanclea and Roccella Valdemone remains confirmed for tomorrow. This is the second consecutive day of suspension of educational activities, a choice shared by numerous local administrations to reduce travel and protect students, families and school staff. Over the last few hours, new closure measures have been signed which affect, among others, the municipalities of Taormina, Giardini Naxos, Letojanni, Castelmola, Gallodoro, Mongiuffi Melia, Limina, Roccalumera, Pagliara, Alì, Mandanici, Gaggi, Graniti, Santa Teresa Riva, Francavilla di Sicilia and Malvagna.
Stop transit also on the seafront in Santa Teresa di Riva, as ordered by the mayor Danilo Lo Giudice who announced winds that could exceed 300 kilometers per hour. Observation also strengthened on the Agrò stream, considered one of the most delicate nodes in the event of intense rainfall.
Seafronts closed in eight municipalities in the Ionian area of Messina
Since late afternoon, the intensity of the storm that is lashing the Ionian coast of Messina, on which Cyclone Harry hit, has increased. The 5-6 meter high waves reached the roadways and the Municipalities took action to modify the road system. In particular, the seafronts were closed in eight municipalities, namely Giardini Naxos, Letojanni, Sant’Alessio Siculo, Santa Teresa di Riva, Furci Siculo, Roccalumera, Nizza di Sicilia and Alì Terme.
Traffic entirely diverted with two-way traffic on the State Road 114 in Sant’Alessio Siculo, Furci Siculo, Roccalumera, Nizza di Sicilia and Alì Terme, while in Santa Teresa di Riva the transit towards Messina was diverted onto the panoramic road with the exception of the final stretch of the seafront, which was left passable, while in the direction of Catania the SS 114 can be used.
State road 114, the connection between Santa Teresa di Riva and Sant’Alessio Siculo closed
At 10.30pm, the submersible walkway over the Agrò stream was closed, which connects Santa Teresa di Riva and Sant’Alessio Siculo and guarantees the continuity of State Road 114, given the closure of the Agrò bridge since 2018 for demolition and reconstruction works. The heavy rains of the last few hours have caused the torrent to swell, which has reached and exceeded the level of the road. The situation had been monitored since late afternoon by Anas personnel, who in the evening prohibited transit in both directions. Local police and the Carabinieri were also on site. The closure will most likely remain throughout the night until tomorrow morning. The only alternative to move between the two municipalities is to take the A18 Messina-Catania motorway between the Roccalumera and Taormina junctions.