Homes submerged, at least 18 die from cyclone in Sardinia

By Canadian Underwriter, | November 19, 2013 | Last updated on October 30, 2024
2 min read

The Italian island of Sardinia, across the Tyrrhenian Sea from the mainland, received more than 440 millimetres of rain in 24 hours Monday, with rivers bursting banks, submersing homes and sweeping away cars.

Homes submerged, at least 18 die from cyclone in Sardinia

“The floods have carried away cars, submerged homes and caused bridges to collapse,” according to a press release Tuesday from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

“The Italian Red Cross said hundreds of people had been forced out of their homes and into temporary shelters set up in sports halls and other centres.” The Red Cross noted at least 18 died.

The Associated Press reported the island received more than 44 centimetres of rain in 24 hours Monday, which is half the amount it normally receives in a year

By comparison, Canada’s 24-hour record for rainfall was 489.2 mm, which occurred Oct. 6, 1967 at Ucluelet Brynnor Mines on the west coast of Vancouver Island, according to Environment Canada.

AP reported that Italian Premier Enrico Letta declared a state of emergency and quoted Gianni Giovannelli, mayor of Olbia, as stating that water levels reached three metres in some places.

Olbia was in the worst affected area, with much of the city destroyed, reported Deutsche Welle, Germany’s government-funded broadcasting service.

The storm was known as Cyclone Cleopatra, according to the Red Cross, which says it has deployed 25 vehicles and set up tents to shelter people whose homes were damaged.

Canadian Underwriter

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