Travel warning: le Cinque Terre hit by floods, cutting off towns
Oct 25th, 2011, 03:46 PM
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Travel warning: le Cinque Terre hit by floods, cutting off towns
Several towns in le Cinque Terre suffered severe flooding today, closing train stations and sections of the autostrade. In addition, train service along the Ligurian coast between Genova and La Spezia was disrupted, with many trains cancelled, and the disruptions affected travel as far away as Milan and Florence.
If you have plans to visit the le Cinque Terre area in the coming days and weeks, you should double check before heading to the area that services have been restored and how much of the area is accessible. Monterosso al Mare and Vernazza were especially hard hit.
If you have plans to visit the le Cinque Terre area in the coming days and weeks, you should double check before heading to the area that services have been restored and how much of the area is accessible. Monterosso al Mare and Vernazza were especially hard hit.
Oct 25th, 2011, 05:00 PM
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This video gives a dramatic indication of amount of mud and water that cascaded into Monterosso al Mare alone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GgnXMpMZw8
While the towns may be accessible in a few days -- and that is no guarantee -- the trails may remain closed for quite some time due to dangerous conditions.
Anybody thinking of staying in le Cinque Terre at any point during the remainder of the rainy season -- which can last through May -- should watch the situation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GgnXMpMZw8
While the towns may be accessible in a few days -- and that is no guarantee -- the trails may remain closed for quite some time due to dangerous conditions.
Anybody thinking of staying in le Cinque Terre at any point during the remainder of the rainy season -- which can last through May -- should watch the situation.
Oct 26th, 2011, 02:42 AM
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This was the report from Reuters as of Wednesday morning:
"Thunderstorms lashed parts of Liguria and Tuscany late on Tuesday, bringing down several bridges and at least one house, cutting off electricity and water, disrupting train services and blocking roads.
"Everything is missing here -- supplies, water, electricity," said Angelo Betta, mayor of the town of Monterosso in the scenic tourist area of Cinque Terre on the Ligurian coast in northwestern Italy.
"People are getting into their houses through the terraces, everything is flooded. Monterosso doesn't exist anymore."
Rescue teams said they were having difficulty reaching some of the flooded areas and people were being evacuated by sea from some towns along the spectacular coast. The army has been put on standby to help in rescue efforts."
"Thunderstorms lashed parts of Liguria and Tuscany late on Tuesday, bringing down several bridges and at least one house, cutting off electricity and water, disrupting train services and blocking roads.
"Everything is missing here -- supplies, water, electricity," said Angelo Betta, mayor of the town of Monterosso in the scenic tourist area of Cinque Terre on the Ligurian coast in northwestern Italy.
"People are getting into their houses through the terraces, everything is flooded. Monterosso doesn't exist anymore."
Rescue teams said they were having difficulty reaching some of the flooded areas and people were being evacuated by sea from some towns along the spectacular coast. The army has been put on standby to help in rescue efforts."
Oct 26th, 2011, 02:52 AM
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I am especially concerned about some posters who only recently joined Fodor's to ask questions about first-time trips to Italy that included visiting le Cinque Terre in the coming weeks. One was named murky1980, and I think there were others.
If Fodor's posters see threads by these posters on the boards, please alert them to this situation. The Tripadvisor message boards have several native Italian posters who are posting regularly about it, so that would help people get more information. As of this moment, it really does look like people should avoid the area until the hillsides are stabilized. This is only the beginning of the rainy season.
On the TripAdvisor message board, a resident of Monterosso al Mare reported that "the old town is no more" and that while the new part of town fared better, tourists were being evacuated by boat to La Spezia. Apparently nothing like this has ever been seen in Monterosso before.
Some of Tuscany was also badly damaged, near the beautiful town of Pontremoli.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...n_Riviera.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...aly-Italy.html
If Fodor's posters see threads by these posters on the boards, please alert them to this situation. The Tripadvisor message boards have several native Italian posters who are posting regularly about it, so that would help people get more information. As of this moment, it really does look like people should avoid the area until the hillsides are stabilized. This is only the beginning of the rainy season.
On the TripAdvisor message board, a resident of Monterosso al Mare reported that "the old town is no more" and that while the new part of town fared better, tourists were being evacuated by boat to La Spezia. Apparently nothing like this has ever been seen in Monterosso before.
Some of Tuscany was also badly damaged, near the beautiful town of Pontremoli.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...n_Riviera.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...aly-Italy.html
Oct 26th, 2011, 05:14 AM
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Oct 26th, 2011, 06:30 AM
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Fergo,
Thus far today, train service has not been restored to the le Cinque Terre towns but all tourists are accounted for and being relocated to neighboring towns, especially to La Spezia, where there is train service to the rest of Italy.
The weather in Liguria today is calm, clear and dry, so service people are able to reach the affected areas.
Thus far today, train service has not been restored to the le Cinque Terre towns but all tourists are accounted for and being relocated to neighboring towns, especially to La Spezia, where there is train service to the rest of Italy.
The weather in Liguria today is calm, clear and dry, so service people are able to reach the affected areas.
Oct 26th, 2011, 07:08 AM
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Trenitalia is publishing updates on the interruption of train service in the area of the Cinque Terre. Long-distance trains between Rome and Genoa are being re-routed inland:
http://www.fsnews.it/cms/v/index.jsp...008916f90aRCRD
Turn to this webpage for the latest information:
http://www.fsnews.it/cms/v/index.jsp...0080a3e90aRCRD
http://www.fsnews.it/cms/v/index.jsp...008916f90aRCRD
Turn to this webpage for the latest information:
http://www.fsnews.it/cms/v/index.jsp...0080a3e90aRCRD
Oct 26th, 2011, 09:26 AM
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I was in Vernazza in August, seen images showing devastation, Cinqueterre.com blog has an image of Vernazza train station showing solid debris, not water filling what looks like half the rail tunnel, several vehicles have been washed into the harbor along with many fishing boats, 3 people reported missing
Oct 26th, 2011, 09:52 AM
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These photos show why the trains are not running on schedule:
http://www.fsnews.it/cms/v/index.jsp...008916f90aRCRD
http://www.fsnews.it/cms/v/index.jsp...008916f90aRCRD
