Rare double waterspout tornado strikes Sicily, injuring at least 10 people

A rare and highly destructive double waterspout tornado struck the western coast of Sicily on October 9, 2026, tearing through Marsala, Petrosino, and Mazara del Vallo. The storm hospitalized ten people, including five children, and caused widespread devastation, flipping vehicles and severely damaging the Alcide De Gasperi school. Regional officials linked the unprecedented event to accumulated summer heat from the ongoing climate crisis.

Formation and path of the tornado

• ▪A powerful tornado, which formed as a rare double waterspout over the sea, struck the western coast of Sicily near Marsala on October 9, 2026.
• ▪The tornado moved inland from Marsala's port, sweeping through the city and neighboring settlements including Petrosino and Mazara del Vallo.

Damage to buildings and vehicles

• ▪The tornado severely damaged the Alcide De Gasperi school in Strasatti, Marsala, shattering windows, tearing off fixtures, and overturning classroom bookshelves.
• ▪The strong winds flipped numerous passenger cars and trucks, including one vehicle that was thrown into a ravine in Petrosino.

Civil Protection assessment

• ▪Salvatore Cocina, head of Sicily's Civil Protection Service, characterized the tornado as almost unprecedented for the Mediterranean island, comparing its destructiveness to an American tornado.
• ▪Salvatore Cocina stated that the tornado highlights the problem of extreme weather events becoming characteristic of recent years due to the climate crisis.

Injuries and hospitalizations

• ▪Ten people, including five children, were admitted to the hospital following the tornado, according to Trapani Mayor Giacomo Tranchida.
• ▪A couple traveling by car in Petrosino sustained serious injuries and was hospitalized after their vehicle was thrown into a ravine by the storm.

Emergency response and funding

• ▪The president of the Sicily region, Renato Schifani, promised to allocate special funds to address the consequences of the emergency.
• ▪The Italian fire service deployed five firefighter crews from the Trapani province to Marsala, Petrosino, and Mazara del Vallo for rescue operations.

Meteorological context and warnings

• ▪Sicily's Civil Protection Service warned in early September 2026 that high heat accumulation from a hot summer could trigger extreme autumn weather events.
• ▪Cold air from the North Atlantic caused temperatures across Italy to plummet by 5C to 8C, bringing violent winds and rain to Naples and storms to Lazio.

Debatable claims

• ▪Mediterranean nations must upgrade public infrastructure to withstand severe tornadoes
• ▪The climate crisis is the primary cause of Sicily's unprecedented extreme weather