Anger in Sardinia at slow pace of aid after cyclone
- 10 years ago
In cyclone-battered Sardinia, there is some anger at the authorities among residents who say help has been slow to arrive.
At least 16 people were killed by Cyclone Cleopatra and the torrential rains it brought with it.
The north-eastern town of Olbia was among the hardest-hit areas. Thousands of locals had to flee their homes when 45 centimetres of rain fell in just 90 minutes.
Local Bruna Argiolas explained: “My boyfriend and I escaped swimming through the windows and we managed to get upstairs. Now my sister and her husband have come to help us.”
“The authorities say the army is here to help, but we haven’t seen anybody,” Argiolas complained.
Hundreds of disaster-trained volunteers have been sent to Olbia to help residents of the town.
At least 16 people were killed by Cyclone Cleopatra and the torrential rains it brought with it.
The north-eastern town of Olbia was among the hardest-hit areas. Thousands of locals had to flee their homes when 45 centimetres of rain fell in just 90 minutes.
Local Bruna Argiolas explained: “My boyfriend and I escaped swimming through the windows and we managed to get upstairs. Now my sister and her husband have come to help us.”
“The authorities say the army is here to help, but we haven’t seen anybody,” Argiolas complained.
Hundreds of disaster-trained volunteers have been sent to Olbia to help residents of the town.