Waterspouts Ravage Western Sicily

Rare waterspouts struck western Sicily, causing serious damage to homes, a school, vehicles and farmland. The Terrenove campus of Alcide De Gasperi school in Marsala was among the worst-hit buildings. The school’s headteacher described the campus as destroyed. Staff moved all 273 children who were inside to safety, and no serious injuries were reported among pupils or employees. In Petrosino, a car was swept into a ravine, injuring both people inside. Injury figures changed as reports were updated: early accounts said nine people, including four children, had been treated for minor injuries at Marsala hospital. Later accounts raised the total to 11, including two people taken to hospital in nearby Mazara del Vallo. The article does not provide further details about the injured people’s conditions. Emergency teams were still working at the scene while authorities assessed the impact on buildings, vehicles and farmland. At the time of reporting, officials had not established the full extent of the destruction. The account therefore presents an evolving situation, with rescue and assessment efforts continuing and casualty figures subject to updates. It emphasizes both the scale of damage and the successful evacuation of the school, while noting that the reported injuries were not described as serious.

A rare pair of waterspouts came ashore in western Sicily on Friday, causing damage to homes, vehicles and a school. The funnels formed off the coast near Marsala and moved inland towards Trapani, passing through Petrosino. The Terrenove campus of the Alcide De Gasperi school in Marsala was among the worst-hit buildings; its headteacher described it as destroyed. Staff moved all 273 children who were inside to safety, and no serious injuries were reported among pupils or employees. In Petrosino, a car was swept into a ravine, injuring both occupants. Reports on the number of people treated for injuries changed as information emerged. Early accounts said nine people, including four children, had received treatment for minor injuries at Marsala hospital. Later accounts put the total at 11, including two people taken to a hospital in nearby Mazara del Vallo. The article does not give further details about the injured people or the condition of those taken to hospital. Emergency teams continued working while authorities assessed damage to buildings, vehicles and farmland. At the time of the report, the full extent of the destruction had not yet been established. The article focuses on the storm’s impacts, the safe evacuation of the children and the injuries reported, while noting that damage assessments were ongoing.

A rare double waterspout formed over the sea near Marsala, on Sicily’s western coast, on Friday, 9 October, before moving inland and causing damage in the surrounding Trapani area. The two rotating columns were seen near Marsala’s port and then reached land, where the extreme weather affected buildings, vehicles and farmland. Among the damaged structures was the Alcide De Gasperi school in the Terrenove district, which was reported to have suffered severe damage. In nearby Petrosino, a tornado struck a car and hurled it into a ravine. Both people inside the vehicle were injured and taken to hospital; the article does not give further information about their condition. Video filmed from the Biscione seafront in Petrosino, near Sibiliana, shows the tornado approaching land from the sea. The coastal area was left with a trail of damage, and emergency services responded to the aftermath. The report focuses on the unusual weather event, its visible impact on the local community and the immediate response. It does not provide an explanation for the tornadoes, estimates of the overall damage, or additional details about ongoing recovery efforts.