Tsunami Strikes Italy

Stromboli Online ^ | December 31, 2002

[John H K]

Update: The tsunami phenomenon, which yesterday we defined "small" in order to avoid useless alarms when news were still very confusing and contradictory, has revealed hour after hour all its severity. The greatest damages were recorded in Ginostra, but also in the village of Stromboli many boats were destroyed or taken away by the waves, and many buildings were damaged. At least 3 tourists are reported injured, and other sources talk of 6 injured in total. The tsunami has reached also the other Eolian islands and Milazzo harbour, where 2 tankers suffered difficulties. During the evening, following the invitation of the Civil Defense, tens of inhabitants and tourists voluntarily left the island. Moreover, since this morning NON-RESIDENT PEOPLE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO LAND ON STROMBOLI. For what concerns the dynamics of the phenomenon producing the tsunami, there are no evidences of summit eplosions, but only of the collapse, as we suggested yesterday, of part of the lava field over the steep slope of the Sciara del Fuoco, that may have detached only by gravitational instability. This hypothesis is supported by the observation, yesterday afternoon, of a big scar at about midslope on the Sciara (source: the volcano guides Antonio Famularo and Nino Zerilli) and by the seismic data recorded by INGV - Catania, which show the presence of two non-volcanic seismic events, at 13:15 and 13:22 local time respectively.

[John H K]

Really odd that I can't find a mention of this on the standard news sites or wires.

Stromboli of course is the famous volcano that pretty much erupts constantly, and every once in a while erupts more strongly. There have been small tsunamis from avalanches there before, and actually poking around the net searching "Stromboli Tsunami" quite a lot of academic papers detailing the threat. Seems like it actually happened.

[July 4th]

Dec 31, 2002

ROME, Italy (AP) -- Gas burst from the tiny volcanic island of Stromboli in southern Italy on Monday, prompting a landslide and a wave of water that injured at least six people, officials said.

Damage was not thought to be severe. Civil Defence and firefighting officials were heading to the island to assess what happened, and could offer few details on the nature of the volcanic activity.

At least five people suffered light injuries, while one other person suffered a more serious back injury, said emergency-room chief Dr. Gustavo Rizzo at a hospital in Messina, Sicily, where some of the injured were being sent.

Stromboli, which is 60 kilometres (40 miles) north of Sicily, is noted for frequent minor eruptions, and attracts tourists keen to see the flow of lava inching down the side of the volcano. It is part of the volcanic Aeolian archipelago, and has a population of only a few hundred people.

Firefighters heading to the volcano said a heavy burst of gas was emitted from the crater of the volcano. This caused a landslide, while a wave of water gushed into the tiny settlement of Ginostra.

Local dockworker Vincenzo Merlino, 55, was at home relaxing at the time.

"All of a sudden, as I was calmly smoking my pipe, I heard a small noise and went down to the end of the garden," he said by phone from Stromboli. "I saw the tide pull back, then return with five- or six-metre waves."

He did not see any major damage, although a few boats were washed away.

Civil Defence officials flew over the island in helicopters to try to assess the cause and extent of the damage.

Stromboli is not the only active volcano in southern Italy, with Mt. Etna in Sicily coming to life in October, causing lava to pour down the mountain for several weeks.

[blam]

I saw it on the BBC earlier today. The volcano was the big story with the tsunami contained within that article.

[John H K]

Thanks...not a peep on ABCNews.com or CNN, and didn't turn up anything on Yahoo.

Interesting Academic paper on the consequences of a really large Stromboli collapse (far larger than occured yesterday:)

http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/its2001/Separate_Papers/6-05_Tinti.pdf

[Thinkin' Gal]

"All of a sudden, as I was calmly smoking my pipe, I heard a small noise and went down to the end of the garden," he said by phone from Stromboli.

Quick, find some pants for Pat Boone!!!

[rwfromkansas]

Not much of a tsunami.

[Willie Green]

Tsunami Strikes Italy

The Euroweenies are sure to be upset about this.
No doubt the Japanese are gonna have to pay reparations under WTO agreements.

[PoisedWoman]

It's always been turbulent on Stromboli. Ingrid Bergman starred in Stromboli in 1949, her first film with Rossellini. It was considered such hot stuff then that the Italian ending was changed for American consumption. So say the critics at amazon.com

[blam]

Monday, 30 December, 2002, 19:38 GMT, BBC

Italian volcano flexes its muscles

Stromboli is one of the most active volcanoes in Europe

A volcano has erupted off Italy's Sicilian coast injuring at least six people and bringing chaos to the surrounding area.
A burst of gas from the tiny volcanic island which is home to the Stromboli volcano sent a mass of rock into the sea, causing a tidal wave.

I saw the sun obscured by a cloud of lava ashes and a wave which was at least 20 metres high

Eyewitness

Water overturned boats and flooded the village of Ginostra injuring at least six people, one of them seriously.

More eruptions are expected although they are not believed to pose an immediate danger to the island's few hundred inhabitants.

Scared residents were temporarily evacuated by the Italian navy as a precaution.

"I saw the sun obscured by a cloud of lava ashes and a wave which was at least 20 metres high," an eyewitness told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

"There were other people on the beach, it was a miracle that the sea did not carry them away."

The eruption could be seen from neighbouring islands.

According to La Repubblica, the tidal wave started by Stromboli reached the northern coast of Sicily.

It displaced two boats being loaded with fuel causing an oil spill into the sea. The spill is said to be under control.

Tourist attraction

Situated on an island of the same name in the Lipari archipelago 60 kilometres (40 miles) north-east of Sicily, the Stromboli volcano is known for its frequent minor eruptions.

The volcano is considered to be one of the most active in Europe. Its flow of lava, which slowly slides down the mountainside into the sea, is a tourist attraction.

Vulcanologists are expected to monitor the Stromboli closely, but some predicted renewed activity a month ago.

Stromboli's activity followed the eruption of Sicily's Mount Etna two weeks ago when at least 15 people were injured and around 1,000 evacuated.

[jdontom]

[galt-jw]

do you know if there has been an increase in tectonic activity in recent weeks?

[FreedomFarmer]

"Stromboli bin Tsunami"

Volcano of Peace©.

[tubebender]

Heres one for you...

[blam]

"do you know if there has been an increase in tectonic activity in recent weeks?"

No I don't. I don't think so or that would be news.

[2sheep]

"strom" may be mattress, covering, but what is "boli?"

[Kevin Curry]

"strom" may be mattress, covering, but what is "boli?"

Isn't a "bolus" a "ball"? So "boli" might mean many balls.

Mattress balls. So there you have it. I guess.

[2sheep]

You might be pretty close. One "bol" word, bollix means : To throw into confusion; botch or bungle: managed to bollix up the whole project.[Alteration of ballocks, testicles, from Middle English balloks, from Old English beallucas.]

[Thinkin' Gal]

Stromboli (derived from the Greek word 'strongyle' - 'the round one.'<<<

http://www.infoeolie.it/eolie_eng.htm

[Semper911]

Mattress balls. So there you have it.

I should have seen it coming, but that line had me howling. Good one.

[2sheep]

Silly me, I thought it would be Latin or Italian.