Hijacked planes, fallen trees, snow, and hail: Sardinia in the grip of severe weather.
Flights are canceled in Alghero, with routes to Cagliari and Olbia. No ships are operating in Porto Torres. The central mountainous areas are blanketed in snow, with firefighters responding in the Oristano and Sarrabus areas. Parks and cemeteries are closed.Per restare aggiornato entra nel nostro canale Whatsapp
Planes hijacked, ships that do not touch the docks , snow that begins to fall on the main reliefs of the central-north, hail in the lower parts of the Barbagia di Seulo, scattered rain and trees knocked down by the wind .
In the last 24 hours, firefighters on the island have carried out approximately 200 interventions to address damage and disruption caused by severe weather. Most of the critical incidents were caused by trees falling due to strong winds, which reached speeds of up to 100 km/h. Approximately 60 interventions have already been carried out by emergency teams from all regional offices, and 35 interventions were carried out to secure damaged cornices, roof tiles, and signs.
Currently, there are over 40 requests for intervention being managed by the operations rooms of the Fire Brigade Commands of Cagliari, Sassari, Nuoro, and Oristano, which are dispatching operational teams based on priority.
And the emergency is set to continue into tomorrow, with the Civil Protection alert extended until 11.59pm on Sunday 11 January .
Hijacked flights
The strong winds that have been buffeting the Riviera del Corallo since this morning have made landing at Alghero Airport impossible. The flight arriving from Milan Linate, scheduled for 8:46 a.m., was diverted to Cagliari-Elmas, where the captain opted for a safe landing. The plane arriving from Fiumicino, scheduled to land at 9:45 a.m., was diverted to Olbia.
According to reports, mistral gusts exceeded the permitted operating limits for the final approach phases, forcing the control tower and crews to reconsider the flight's final destination. This decision was made as a precaution, in line with standard procedures in the event of adverse weather conditions. The situation could remain unstable in the coming hours, with strong winds forecast throughout the day on the northwest coast. Passengers will be assisted in transferring to their original arrival airports.
The ships
Moby had announced that until today its ships would not be sailing to Porto Torres and connections would be made to Isola Bianca. For three days now, the routes have been shifted to Olbia due to strong winds that have made passage through the Strait of Bonifacio impassable. Traffic is expected to return to normal starting tomorrow, Sunday.
Fallen trees
Due to strong winds and worsening weather conditions, Mayor Raimondo Cacciotto of Alghero today signed an ordinance closing the municipal cemetery and all parks and green spaces with tall trees . These areas will remain closed starting at 2:00 PM today, Saturday, January 10, and until the weather warning is lifted. This decision is necessary to allow for stability checks and safety restoration work following the latest gusts of wind that have further strained the city's tree population.
The strong gusts of mistral wind also caused problems in the Oristano area : the firefighters intervened to secure some poles in the Terralbese area, while in the capital some heavy palm fronds fell into the middle of Piazza Ungheria.
Similar problems are reported in the Sarrabus area, in Castiadas: among the hardest-hit areas are Cala Pira (municipal parking lot), provincial road number 20 (Camisa), and the entrance to the town of Olia Speciosa. Fears are high here, too, due to unsafe trees and poles.
In Cagliari, a dangerous tree blocks traffic on Via Giussani, in front of the former Buoncammino prison.
CTM lines 8, 10, and 20 are changing their routes. Line 10 will run on Viale Buon Cammino, Viale Merello, and Via Don Bosco. Line 8 will run on Viale Merello, while Line 20 will reverse direction at the Via Cadello roundabout.
Over 60 interventions have already been carried out by all teams of the Sassari Command due to the bad weather : dangerous trees and poles, static subsidence, safety measures to buildings due to falling tiles and debris.
In Cheremule , strong winds with gusts of 70 km/h caused a fence wall to collapse .
Snow and ice
New snowfalls occurred overnight in the Gennargentu, blanketing the landscape above 1,200 meters between the Desulo and Fonni hills. Several centimeters of snow fell between the hills of Su Filariu, S'Arena, Bruncuspina, and the Monte Spada area, bringing the first visitors and selling out accommodations for today and tomorrow. Snowplows operated by ANAS and the Province were operational throughout the night. This morning, traffic disruptions occurred on the SS 389 Nuoro-Lanusei highway due to strong gusts of wind, which made vehicle traffic difficult. (Giorgio Ignazio Onano)
Parks and cemeteries closed in Cagliari
Cagliari Mayor Massimo Zedda has ordered the closure of the city's parks and cemeteries today and tomorrow until 1:30 PM. This decision was "taken to protect public safety due to adverse weather conditions, as per the latest bulletins from the regional Civil Protection Department, and in particular the strong winds. " The cemeteries "will, however, be open for receiving bodies and for the Mortuary Police."
Closures in Mores
Green areas, parks, and cemeteries closed. Severe weather, with strong gusts of wind, is expected to increase in the coming hours, and the Municipality of Mores has issued an ordinance closing the playground in Zone 167 and the municipal cemetery, as well as prohibiting access to the wooded areas in Zone 167. The Mayor of Mores, Enrico Virdis, has signed an ordinance specifically limiting outdoor activities. The measure, which will remain in effect until Sunday, January 11, requires the public closure of the municipal cemetery, except for the "compliance with urgent requirements regarding funeral services and mortuary police activities." Access and access to green areas and gardens in the outskirts of the city are also prohibited.
Ordinance in Quartu
Quartu Mayor Graziano Milia has taken action to prevent potential hazards and critical environmental situations, protecting users of the city's parks and the entire municipal area. Strong winds can cause large branches to move, especially since entire trees are subject to swaying motion. The mayor has issued an order closing the city's parks for the entire day. Citizens are also urged to take all necessary precautions.
(Caterina Fiori and Mariangela Pala collaborated)