Vibo Valentia - La frana di Maierato

http://www.pupia.tv - VIBO VALENTIA (Italy). Mass evacuation is underway in Maierato, a town of 2,300 inhabitants in the province of Vibo Valentia, where an entire mountainside near the town center collapsed on Monday, endangering homes. The first 300 people were evacuated from their homes on Monday evening, and the entire town evacuation began Tuesday morning. More than 200 people have been housed at the Vibo Valentia police station. Another 90 people will be housed in the Vibo Valentia sports hall. Others will be taken to the Monte Poro sports hall, which can accommodate 400-500 people, but many of the evacuees have already found shelter at the homes of relatives and friends. Tons of earth cover what until yesterday was a valley. The ridge has almost touched dozens of homes, putting even the buildings at the summit at risk, which could slide into the valley if the landslide continues. This is a real risk, given that it has resumed heavy rain. The landslide has a front of a couple of kilometers: it has swept away roads and aqueducts, leaving the town completely without water. "With Maierato, the entire region of Calabria is experiencing landslides. This is not an exaggeration, nor is it new, as tears have been shed recently over other natural disasters," warned Calabrian President Agazio Loiero, who is monitoring the emergency with the Civil Protection task force and the Departments of Environment and Public Works. Loiero has called an extraordinary meeting of the Regional Government to declare a state of natural disaster and involve the government in immediate interventions for the evacuated populations and in reconstruction projects. "The Region has launched an 800 million euro program, identifying a series of priorities," he explains. "It's a huge sum, but it's not enough for the reality of the area. It would be enough to address these natural disasters rather than the bridge over the Strait." (15.02.10)