Brief
Tornado tears through Marsala, Sicily, injuring 11 and damaging school
The twister hit Marsala and nearby towns, prompting emergency response and a visit from the regional president.
By Felo News Desk · Published
A powerful tornado ripped through the western Sicilian city of Marsala on Oct. 9, injuring 11 people, some critically, and causing extensive damage to homes, vehicles and the Alcide De Gasperi school where 273 children were sheltering.
What happened
The funnel touched down at about 10 a.m. local time, sweeping through Marsala before moving inland to the neighboring towns of Petrosino and Mazara del Vallo. Cars and trucks were flipped, roofs torn off, and power poles collapsed. In Petrosino a couple’s vehicle was swept into a ravine, leaving the occupants in serious condition. A 70‑year‑old man was taken to Villa Sofia Hospital in Palermo with multiple fractures.
What the reports add
New York Post cited remarks from Salvatore Cocina, head of Sicily’s Civil Protection agency, who told Reuters the event resembled an American tornado and described the aftermath as a “war scene.” Marsala Mayor Andreana Patti, quoted via Corriere della Sera, used the same phrase. School principal Leonardo Gullotta told La Repubblica that teachers moved the children to interior spaces as windows shattered and ceiling sections collapsed. Six students were later treated at hospital, according to Corriere della Sera. The regional president, Renato Schifani, announced plans to visit the area and allocate emergency funds.
What was said
“It was almost like an American tornado, nothing this violent has been seen in living memory,” Cocina said to Reuters. “Looking at the images the Air Force provided us this morning, we’re looking at a war scene,” he added. Mayor Patti echoed, “We don’t know where we’ll sleep or who will pay for this damage,” a resident named Pietro told LaPresse.
How it came about
Italy’s summer heatwave prompted the Civil Protection agency to issue a warning in early September about the risk of extreme weather in the fall. The tornado’s intensity underscores the agency’s earlier concerns about climate‑related extreme events.
Key facts
- A tornado struck Marsala, Sicily on Oct. 9, injuring 11 people. (nypost.com)
- 273 children were inside the Alcide De Gasperi school when the tornado hit. (nypost.com)
- Cars were flipped, roofs blown off and power poles downed across Marsala, Petrosino and Mazara del Vallo. (nypost.com)
- Regional president Renato Schifani announced a visit and emergency funds for reconstruction. (nypost.com)
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “Wild video shows tornado rip through Sicilian city, injuring 11, destroying school and flipping cars”
