Overview
- Two waterspouts formed over the sea and moved onshore in western Sicily, striking Marsala and nearby towns within minutes on Friday and leaving heavy local damage to buildings, vehicles and farmland.
- At least eleven people were hurt, including six children, and a 70-year-old man suffered multiple fractures and required surgery as emergency services treated the injured.
- The Alcide De Gasperi school was heavily damaged while about 273 pupils were inside and staff sheltered children in a protected area before rescuers arrived.
- Fire brigade units, civil-protection teams and extra rescue crews carried out search, safety and recovery operations while Marsala hospital activated an emergency plan and offered psychological support.
- Officials said the event is part of a wider severe-weather system bringing floods and landslides across Italy and warned that a formal state-of-emergency request will help secure funds and housing for people whose homes are now uninhabitable.