As many travelers who love Italy will recall, ten years ago on Oct. 25, disastrous floods occurred in the Cinque Terre, the Val di Vara nearby, as well as other parts of Lunigiana and La Spezia. A fierce storm system stalled over this area of steep hills and narrow valleys causing flash floods of great intensity. The flooding took 13 lives and devastated property both public and private. Damage has been almost entirely repaired now, though one reminder is a modernized alert system to warn of possible danger and to close the area to visitors for extreme events.
One short compilation video is here: https://youtu.be/PkmrMQY16-A
Wikipedia Italian has a complete descriptive article:
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alluvione_dello_Spezzino_e_della_Lunigiana_del_25_ottobre_2011
Posted by
NorCal
385 posts
Thanks for posting this remembrance, Mike.
Just speechless after watching the compilation video. Such a beautiful region, hard to believe it's been ten years.
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7357 posts
We were in Vernaza last week. I was aware that the significant anniversary was coming in a few days. On some level, I wanted to ask somebody whether a big remembrance ceremony, or memorial event was planned. Between getting thru the crowds on the main street, and trying to work our way to the trail to Corniglia, that didn’t happen.
The town seemed in good shape, without obvious signs that things had gotten devastated 10 years ago. Vernazza cleans up well. Rick describes the “new” beach, created by flood debris, but now slowly being reclaimed by the sea. Water giveth, and taketh away. Rick also mentioned that the body of a victim washed ashore in France after the flood. Swiss engineers were brought in to keep the same damage from reoccurring. It’s too late, obviously, for some victims. For survivors, never forget, but life is going on.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32206 posts
Mike,
Thanks for posting that! I remember those tragic events well, but had forgotten that the ten year anniversary was approaching. Hopefully this never happens again.
Posted by
Colorado
117 posts
Our first visit to CT was shortly after the floods. I remember seeing the street damages and seeing where the high water mark was visible on the sides of the buildings and in the church, and there were scars on the sides of the buildings from where the cars had hit them while being pushed by the water. I was under the impression there were still sections of trails that have not reopenned still since the flood.
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7357 posts
A storm that occurred just last month shut the trail between Vernazza and Monterosso. For a month, only 2 towns (Corniglia and Vernazza) had been connected by the main trail. We took higher, steeper trails hat were still open. It sounds like trails get cleared, then some get shut off again. Some trails in the area have been for years, but not necessarily because of that one flood.