At around 11am today, a tornado hit Venice in Italy. Initial reports indicate that trees were damaged, market stalls overturned and some buildings were damaged. No injuries have been reported.
***2015 Venice Tornado Video here***
One of the worst hit areas was the Sant’Elena island where an open air market was in progress. The tornado caused terrified shoppers to dash for cover.
A water bus ticket office had its roof ripped off by the tornado which some reports stated was a waterspout. A number of boats were capsized.
Around one hundred trees on Certosa Island were knocked down by the tornado and the outdoor dining area of the island’s restaurant was completely destroyed.
On Sant’Erasmo island, the roofs were removed from around a dozen houses, according to reports from emergency services in the area. In the interests of safety, the cemetery on Sant’Erasmo island has been closed.
Here are two videos of today’s tornado:
Venice Tornado – video 1
Venice Tornado – video 2
This is one of the trees which fell victim to today’s tornado:
Venice is no stranger to such events, the most damaging of which occurred in 1970. Another tornado blew through Venice in 2008.
Here is an eye witness report of the Tornado in Venice – Eyewitness Report – Cat, You’re Not in Kansas Anymore Cat Bauer is an author and journalist who has lived in Venice since 1998.
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Tree photograph from City of Venice press office
Addicted2Italy by Larry Aiello says
Yes, it could have been worse.
The city of Venice has so much to deal with on a regular basis with the flooding that occurs in the winters, and the fact that it is sinking. The last thing they need to deal with is tornadoes!
Glad you made it out OK, Cat. sounds scary.
Larry
hotels at Venice airport says
An F2 tornado has destructive power already and I am happy that it didn’t hit on a more populated part of Venice.
Cat Bauer says
Alex, I was actually right in the middle of it. Here’s the link to a post I wrote entitled:
“Tornado in Venice – Eyewitness Report – Cat, You’re Not in Kansas Anymore”
Just like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, I got hit by the tornado in Venice today. This morning, I was on the motoscafo, Line 42, hauling a carrello (hand-cart) full of documents, my computer, and some other stuff. It was heavy.
At the San Pietro stop, it was sunny. About a minute or two later, as we made our way to Certosa, hail started falling. By the time we rounded the bend to Sant’ Elena, we were smack in the middle of a tornado. It takes nine minutes to get to Sant’ Elena from San Pietro. That is a sudden change of weather.
http://venetiancat.blogspot.it/2012/06/tornado-in-venice-eyewitness-report-cat.html
Alex Roe says
OK Cat, thanks for this – link to your eyewitness account of the Venice tornado will be added to the post above.
Not sure I’d like to be an eyewitness to one of these things – having the earth move under me during the mini-quakes which hit Milan was more than enough!
Cheers,
Alex
Cat Bauer says
Thanks, Alex. I appreciate that. I went over to Certosa today, and a whole bunch of trees were uprooted. Cleanup is already in progress down at Sant’ Elena. It’s actually a miracle that there wasn’t more destruction. I keep thinking what would have happened if the tornado had hit some of the huge cranes that are all over town.
Ciao,
Cat
Alex Roe says
Link now added, Cat. And yes, it sounds as if the city had a lucky escape. Fortunately these things are relatively rare in Venice.
Ciao,
Alex
Francesca Maggi says
Venice has trees? 😉
Alex Roe says
It does, Francesca, but has fewer now 😉
Addicted2Italy by Larry Aiello says
Wow, Italy has really been under fire lately with earthquakes, and now a tornado in Venice! Mamma mia!
I hope it will settle down for them.
Larry
Alex Roe says
You are not alone in hoping things will settle down, Larry, but it seems to be turbulence wherever you look in Italy at the moment – economic, political and natural.
Let’s hope the storms blow over, sooner rather than later.
Cheers,
Alex