Bad weather in Naples, wall collapses in the Camaldoli: six families trapped for hours
The bad weather that in these hours is falling on Naples and Campania is creating many inconveniences in the areas of the city where the criticalities related to the poor seal – in some cases even the absence – of the sewer pipes were already evident. This afternoon, shortly after 5 pm, via Guantai in Orsolona, an important connecting road between the hilly area of the Camaldoli and the Aminei Hills, was affected by the collapse of a heavy ridge which, dragged down by the intense rains, fell into the road below. Only by chance did the collapse cause no casualties. In fact, near the area where the collapse occurred, there are several inhabited buildings in addition to the depot of a nearby supermarket, usually very busy.
Five families were trapped. The secondary road that connects the inhabited area with via Guantai in Orsolona – via Vicinale Rotondelle – was also affected by the failure that made it uninhabitable for several hours. The collapse of via Orsolona caused, as was to be expected, slowdowns, traffic and inconvenience for citizens. The entire Camaldoli area, an area already habitually busy at peak times, was a prisoner of traffic for many hours.
Many immediately after the collapse spoke of a tragedy escaped by a miracle, but pointing the finger at the poor management of the sewage systems in the area. The sewers, now decades old, are no longer able to cope with the amount of water that is characterized by storm events with increasing frequency. With every rain, even of medium intensity, the risk of collapses, landslides or landslides is around the corner and it will be up to the next council led by Gaetano Manfredi to remedy a situation that has been dragging on for too many years.
“In this area even today some roads of the Camaldoli are devoid of sewage collectors – complaint Francesco Ruggiero – and those that are there are not properly maintained. Just think of the disgust that is around and often even inside the same drains that are not cleaned until after months of solicitations and complaints from citizens. It is absurd that in 2021 there are streets in our city where there is no collection of water, especially in a historical period where showers are increasingly frequent and violent. We have been pardoned once again – he continues – but now we live in a sad reality where there is a part of the city completely abandoned and devoid of elementary services such as sewers. Today we do not cry victims, but we only record damage to things – concluded Ruggiero – but certainly we cannot expect to entrust the fate of the people and commercial activities of this area to chance or luck ».
The problem of maintenance – or lack of maintenance – of the drains is, especially in view of the winter, of pressing urgency for the Municipality of Naples. Certainly in a few days of mandate it would be illogical to expect an administrative miracle from the junta that Manfredi will have to train in the perspective of a relaunch announced loudly by the former rector, it would be important to give a first signal of efficiency to Naples and the Neapolitans. Starting from a powerful intervention on the rainwater collection system, at this point, could end up among the priorities of the mayor.
The weather forecasts, meanwhile, do not appear comforting. Further showers are expected in the next few hours on the Neapolitan capital. The weather situation, however, should improve compared to the violent storm that hit the city today and caused chaos and flooding.