FLORENCE -- A chasm of around 200 by seven metres opened on Lungarno Torrigiani, between Ponte Vecchio and Ponte alle Grazie in the centre of Florence at around 6.30 on Wednesday morning.  About 20 cars parked along its length fell into its depths, though the fire brigade on the scene say it seems that no one was injured.

 Two buildings have been closed following the apparition of the chasm which it appears was caused by a ruptured water main.  Precautionary measures are being taken, whilst the fire brigade and civil engineers try to control the situation, which for now has not infiltrated into the basement of the two buildings.

 Two water line breakages caused the event, the most serious of which concerns the ‘backbone’ of the aqueduct on the left bank of the Arno river, which is the main pipeline for Oltrarno.  As a result of the first burst in a more minor pipeline, which was signalled at around midnight and caused a manhole cover to be thrown off, the embankment had been closed, explain police, and the society who manage the aqueduct Publiacqua had been warned.

 The possibility has not been excluded at this point that Publiacqua may have caused the pressure on the other pipes when closing the first leak, resulting in the rupture of the main pipeline.  The Mayor of Florence Dario Nardella said, “No injuries, only damage: heavy damage. It’s a very serious chasm.”

 The fire brigade and municipal police were working together to prevent other street collapses.  The problem, explained the fire brigade, is that the water rushing out of the pipeline is causing the soil to wash away, and then erosion.

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