Powerful Tornado Strikes Western Sicily, Leaving 11 Injured and Severe Damage

A powerful tornado struck the city of Marsala in western Sicily over the weekend, leaving a trail of heavy destruction and injuring 11 people, some critically. The fierce storm threw cars and trucks into the air, tore roofs off houses, and destroyed buildings, while 273 students had to shelter inside a school directly in its path.

Destruction and Impact on Residents

Local residents testified that they had never witnessed such a violent natural phenomenon, and the mayor of Marsala described the scenes as a "war zone." The massive storm swept through the city of some 80,000 residents on Friday morning, located in the Trapani province on the island's west coast, before moving inland.

"It was almost like an American tornado, nobody remembers anything so violent," said Salvatore Cocina, head of the civil protection agency in Sicily.

School Shelters and Injuries

Damage to educational institutions was particularly dramatic. The principal of the Alcide De Gasperi school reported that 273 children were inside the building when the storm struck. Teachers quickly rushed students to interior rooms as windows shattered and parts of the ceiling collapsed. Six students were evacuated for medical treatment.

Additionally, a couple driving in Petrosino was hospitalized in serious condition after their vehicle was swept into a ravine, and a 70-year-old man was transferred to a trauma unit in critical condition with multiple fractures.