Jan 25
News is just barely trickling in about an earthquake today near Parma. I haven’t heard back from friends yet, reports are pretty vague at this time. I will write more as information comes in.
Link to real time site HERE.
Courtesy of the Inquistor
Many more reports regarding the second large earthquake to hit Northern Italy in a matter of weeks are out today. One piece of uplifting news is a story about a 65 year old woman who had returned to her home to gather clothing when the second quake hit collapsing the building. Rescue workers were able to pull her from the rubble today.
As with all major earthquakes, the days following are filled with many aftershocks that make stabilizing buildings a high priority. Living through a quake myself, I know that the aftershocks make things very tense and my heart goes out to everyone in Italy.
Click Here for links to articles involving updates in the area today.
Just as emergency workers were beginning to stabilize the situation in Emilia Romagna, another earthquake struck near Modena. Reports say that this quake registered at 5.9 and at this time 13 are dead with 200+ injured. approximately 14,ooo have been forced to leave their homes for safety, double the number reported from the first quake.
The situation today is much more serious and I will keep you updated as details arise. Here is a link to a recent article. Italian Notebook also published this post here.
I have not heard of damage to the Cinque Terre from this earthquake.
**Writer’s Note**
October of last year, a massive flood and mudslide covered one of my beloved villages in Italy. Since that time I have been working to help raise awareness and money for the extensive restoration and rebuild. I am currently writing a book about the village’s history, beauty and the disaster. I will be donating 100% of the proceeds once published.
I have been asked why I would spend so much of my time and effort for a place half the world away.
This is my response.
When I was 15 years old a man named Garvin saved my life when he didn’t have to.
I was 4,000 miles away from home and my family when the earthquake hit Costa Rica. My friends and I stood dumbstruck on that beach trying to comprehend what had just happened. I can remember grabbing our video camera to film the ocean in its eerie stillness. I was naive to the pending danger and oblivious of the power that was to follow those quietly receding waters. From out of the jungle came shouting.
‘Run! Run girls. Run!’
A local named Garvin, with his dark bare chest and long dreadlocks haphazardly whipping behind him, was sprinting towards us at full speed.
‘Run NOW!’ he commanded.
My reverie was broken. The rushing wave of water suddenly in focus. I did not know the word tsunami at the time, but I certainly understood the fear. We dropped everything and fled for the safety of the jungle, Garvin pushing us on from behind. I was first up the steep embankment and several feet into the trees before I dared turn around. I watched as the water overtook the last of my companions, the wave rising up and over her head. Garvin reached down and plucked her to safety. She was shaken and drenched, but she was alive. We all were.
That afternoon I experienced four new things: the power of an earthquake measuring 7.4 from which I was less than 10 miles from the epicenter, the unrelenting force of the ocean knocked off balance, the comfort of a pull of whiskey straight from the bottle and the kind selfless bravery of a stranger. Garvin. One man who could have looked the other way and sought safety for himself. Instead, he took a risk to save three others who were nothing more than visitors in his land.
The beach after the earthquake and tsunami.
Courtesy of Steve Casimuro
Over 20 years later on October 25, 2011 I woke to bits and pieces of news about a devastating flood and mudslide to an Italian village that had long ago captured a piece of my heart. Vernazza. Just the name rolling off my tongue makes me smile, evoking warm memories of lazy days and deep conversations running well into the night. The thought of my special place trapped in mud was unbearable. To make matters worse there was nothing I could do to help from across the ocean. I wanted to pick up a shovel but instead I settled for this pen. I began to write. To write of what was, what is and what could be. I found I was not alone. So many others shared my bond and reached out to help.
This became more than a book. This became my love story to Vernazza. For the heroes, the brave, the fallen and the stubbornly resilient. This is about kindness and beauty; this is about past history and new beginnings. This is also my chance to pay forward for a sacrifice made many years ago on a Costa Rican beach.
My hope is to move you, to inspire you and give you courage. Courage in your own life to make a difference and to understand that no support is too little nor act too small. We have all been saved in some way by someone at sometime in our lives. The time has now come to be the brave, the one to pluck the suffering from the water.
The one to yell ‘RUN!’
Beautiful Vernazza before the flood.
Water raging through the harbor square.
Copyright 2012 Andi Brown Once in a Lifetime Travel
Jan 27
**Second quake hits Italy May 29th, read more here**
**For news on the recent May earthquake in Emila Romagna, click here**
The Cinque Terre has had its struggles with Mother Nature over the last few months and just to prove who is boss she let out a 5.4 earthquake this morning. As you can see from the map, Vernazza was fairly close to the epicenter
This was the second of two earthquakes felt in Northern Italy over the last two days, with the second being felt in Milan as well as some parts of Tuscany. At this time no damage or deaths have been reported but people are definitely a little on edge.
The following link is to the latest news report from ASNA.
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copyright 2012 Andi Brown, Once in a Lifetime Travel
Dreaming of Italy
