Italy and the earthquake, but can this war be won?
Whole countries razed to the ground, infrastructure canceled, thousands of victims, an impressive number of displaced persons. This is the scenario of a war that has always been fought in Italy. But it is not shelling or aerial bombardments that have caused this apocalyptic situation. Nor is it a titanic struggle of man to survive the forces of nature. It is the man himself who has caused all this and created the conditions for his own destruction.
A difficult position
Italy, as we know, is the environment that is most affected by seismic and volcanic phenomena throughout the Mediterranean area. On a cyclical basis, these phenomena have always manifested themselves in our peninsula causing frightening tragedies. In fact, hundreds of thousands of people have died in the last hundred years from similar events. But nothing can be done to prevent earthquake disasters? Can we just stand by and intervene after the tragedy has occurred?
How a catastrophe is prevented
The strongest earthquake in Italy was that recorded in Messina and Reggio Calabria in 1908. The earthquake of 7,2 degrees Richter caused the death of over 100.000 people in a few moments. Other times, one wonders. But no, even if with fewer victims, earthquakes continue to cause damage as if no more than in the past. But why in other parts of the world like California or Japan, stronger earthquakes have much less impact in terms of deaths and destroyed structures? Simply because they build better than us.
What's wrong with Italy
From public to private ones, in Italy only a small part of the structures are built according to serious anti-seismic criteria. To this must be added the abusive construction, the erosion of the soil that generates colossal landslides, the total absence of an anti-tsunami warning system and in general a fatalistic attitude bordering on unconsciousness.
Tsunami alarms? We are not in Japan!
No, we are not in Japan, we are in Italy and the risk of a devastating tsunami is more than likely. In fact, since 2010 the research vessel “Urania” has been monitoring the activity of one of the largest and most dangerous submerged volcanoes in the Mediterranean. It is called Marsili, it is 3000 meters high, 70 kilometers long and 30 kilometers wide. Its peak is 450 meters deep and is active. An eruption of this giant could cause a frightening tidal wave that would wipe out everything on the Tyrrhenian coasts of Sicily, Campania and Calabria.
We must run for cover
Although the company is colossal, it is necessary to adapt all civil structures to serious anti-seismic criteria, starting from public buildings, such as schools and hospitals. Italy can no longer afford reconstructive emergencies and, above all, it can no longer afford to lose so many human lives. Furthermore, it is necessary to delete expressions such as "murderous nature" and realize that the only killers are those who by circumventing the laws and building badly, lay the foundations for these catastrophes. If this is not the case, we will only be able to sacrifice fat lambs and pray for divine protection, a bit like in the days of Pompeii.
Find out more about the Marsili volcano
