"Similarities with the 1951 flood": what happened 75 years ago

" The current phenomenon presents conditions similar to what occurred in Sardinia in October 1951." Turning back the clock is Alessandro Delitala , director of the ARPAS Meteorological Department, connected this morning with the Decision Room of the Regional Civil Protection, led by Mauro Merella . In October 1951, a flood led to the abandonment of Gairo and Osini , the two municipalities in Ogliastra that were later rebuilt a few kilometers apart.

Those were days of torrential rain on the island. The water left a long trail of devastation almost seventy-five years ago. Five deaths were also recorded. Then, as then, the severe weather had hit the eastern side of Sardinia the hardest. Dozens of homes were destroyed in the Sarrabus area, with its epicenters in Muravera, Villaputzu, and San Vito . Gallura was also hit, leaving Buddusò isolated and without supplies. From the news reports of those days in L'Unione Sarda , from October 14th to 19th, we get a complete picture of the damage, estimated at twenty billion lire. The then President of the Republic, Luigi Einaudi, also arrived in Sardinia.

Detailed damage included the train line between Oschiri and Chilivani . Tracks were also swept away between Palau and Tempio . The same thing happened on the Ussassai-Arbatax line, due to the collapse of a tunnel. Like Buddusò, Oliena, Arzana, Baunei, Jerzu, Loceri, Tortolì, Talana, and Nuoro were also affected. At Geremeas, traffic on the Quartu-Villasimius road was no longer possible.

From old Gairo, which became a ghost town and thus a tourist destination, Gairo Sant'Elena and Gairo Cardedu were born. Osini also has an old, abandoned part.