We’re Safe

We’ve had several people check in on us to make sure we were not affected by the tornado that hit Sicily yesterday. So, I thought I’d add a quick post to assure everyone that we’re safe.

The map I attached to this footprint, shows where the waterspouts-turned-tornado hit in western Sicily (left side) and where we were on the 9th … as well as where we are now.

For those who were not already aware of the tornado, below is a recap of the events as provided by AI.

🌪️ A violent, "near-unprecedented" tornado struck western Sicily, Italy, on Friday, October 9, 2026, leaving a trail of heavy destruction and multiple injuries across the region. The weather event originally formed as a double waterspout over the Mediterranean Sea before coming ashore and tracking several kilometers inland.

🌪️ IMPACT & DAMAGE

• Areas Affected: The primary damage was centered in the coastal city of Marsala, and the neighboring towns of Petrosino and Mazara del Vallo in the Trapani province.

• School Evacuation: The tornado directly struck the Alcide De Gasperi school in Strasatti (Marsala) while classes were in session. The violent winds blew out windows and collapsed parts of the ceiling. While 273 children were safely evacuated due to quick-acting staff, between 5 and 8 children sustained minor cuts and injuries from flying debris.

• Casualties & Injuries: Up to 11 people were hospitalized. The most severe injuries involved a motorist couple whose vehicle was thrown into a ravine/overturned by the winds, leaving a 70-year-old man in critical condition with multiple fractures.

• Infrastructure Destruction: The storm flipped cars and trucks, unroofed homes, flattened agricultural warehouses, tore down power poles, and uprooted centuries-old trees.

🌪️ METEOROLOGICAL CONTEXT

Salvatore Cocina, the chief of Sicily's Civil Protection agency, compared the violence of the system to an "American tornado," noting that nothing this severe has been seen in the area in living memory. Experts point out that the tornado was fueled by exceptionally warm Mediterranean sea temperatures reacting with cooler atmospheric shifts, a phenomenon scientists warn is becoming more frequent due to the climate crisis. Regional President Renato Schifani has since pledged emergency funds to aid the affected municipalities.Read more