Tornado in Venice - The Aftermath

 Photo: Davide Toffanin Servizio Videocomunicazione for the Comune di Venezia

(Venice, Italy) That is the ACTV ticket office down by Sant' Elena, without its roof, blown off by the tornado yesterday. That ticket office is located directly in front of the vaporetto stop where the number 42 motoscofo was docked as we clung on to the railing while the tornado sweep over us. As you can see, we had to hold on tight. In case you missed it, here is the link to my post from yesterday:

Tornado in Venice - Eyewitness Report - Cat, You're Not in Kansas Anymore

The tornado cut a swath of destruction through the trees at Sant' Elena, which is past Giardini where La Biennale takes place. A tree fell on the wall of the stadium. Today, clean up had already been started.

Photo: Davide Toffanin Servizio Videocomunicazione for the Comune di Venezia

Over on Certosa, trees were uprooted, tables and chairs at the restaurant were tossed into a jumble. I went out there this afternoon, and, again, things were slowly being put back into order, though there were many trees that had been destroyed.

Photo: Davide Toffanin Servizio Videocomunicazione for the Comune di Venezia

I have not had a chance to go to the island of Sant' Erasmo, which is where much of Venice's local fruit and vegetables comes from, but the damage was severe. Six or seven houses had their roofs blown off, and there was damage to the crops. I believe I am correctly identifying the photo of the little truck below as the one that sells local fruit and vegetables from the back of the pickup, parked near the tip of the island.

Photo: Davide Toffanin Servizio Videocomunicazione for the Comune di Venezia

It is really a miracle that no one was killed or seriously hurt. I keep thinking what would have happened if the tornado had hit one of the huge cranes located all throughout Venice, since many buildings are currently under reconstruction.

Photo: Davide Toffanin Servizio Videocomunicazione for the Comune di Venezia

From what I've seen, the Comune is doing an excellent job in restoring things to order. It is commendable how professionally and swiftly everyone reacted, preventing any serious harm to the people of Venice.

Today, June 13, OurAmazingPlanet has an interesting story by Andrea Mustain:

Videos Show Rare Tornado Striking Venice

 ...The tornado, or "tromba d'aria" (trumpet of the air) in Italian, ripped roofs from houses, uprooted trees, largely destroyed at least one park, and left dozens of boats piled in a jumble as though lifted by an invisible hand, according to local media reports. ...

Here's another story about the damage from a June 13th story in The Telegraph by Nick Squires (Even though the caption on the original photo says there are gondolos in that boat pile-up, I don't see any.):

Venice assesses damage after tornado strike

Photo: EPA/ANDREA MEROLA

This is the dramatic moment a powerful tornado ripped across Venice's lagoon, flattening trees, tearing off roofs and devastating a medieval cloister.

 

...Dozens of boats were overturned and a group of 15 sailing students were trapped inside a boat house after its entrance was blocked by a fallen tree.

The tornado swept in from the Adriatic Sea, passing over the long strip of land known as the Lido, where the Venice Film Festival is held.

Photographs and amateur video showed the sky turning an ominous dark grey as the tornado drilled its way across the shallow lagoon. ...

Ciao from Venice,
Cat
Venetian Cat - The Venice Blog