ROME -  Sardinians are questioning the lack of warning from the government's Civil Protection Agency on Wednesday after Cyclone Cleopatra tore through the island, killing 18 people, four of whom were children.

 

Locals are angry that the agency did not issue sufficient warnings ahead of the cyclone, however Franco Gabrielli, the head of the Civil Protection Agency, said that it was extremely difficult to predict "such an exceptional event." Signor Gabrielli explained that a severe weather warning was issued 12 hours before the cyclone, but stated Sardinia's authorities did not plan enough for such an unexpected amount of rainfall. 

 

The event has sparked debates about how local authorities are supposed to cope with such disasters given the state of their crippling financial budgets amidst recession. President of the National Geological Council Gian Vito Graziano is urging for more forward planning and crisis management. He has stated that this tragedy is not "just the fault of climate change."

 

Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta has described the event as a "national tragedy" and the government has pledged £17 million to help rebuild the island, especially the northeastern town of Olbia which was affected the worst. The mayor of Olbia, Gianni Giovannelli, has also echoed Signor Gabrielli's comments, stating that the 90 minute rainfall was so sudden and had "burst like a bomb." 

 

Approximately 2,700 people have been displaced from the cyclone, many now homeless after their houses were submerged by 450 millimetres of mud and water. Bridges also collapsed and were swept away, and many farmlands were completely obliterated. The death toll could rise as rescue teams are looking for victims, however their search has been tampered by more rain and storms which are continuing Wednesday. 

 

A state of emergency has now been declared and the regional government of Sardinia has pledged an extra £5 million to tackle the devastation.