The community of Vettica Minore, a hamlet of the municipality of Amalfi, today commemorates the centenary of one of the most serious natural disasters in its history, in which a massive landslide killed 61 people and destroyed over thirty homes on March 26, 1924. Ceremonies in memory of the event will begin today, World Earth Day, at 18:00 p.m. at the Garden of Memory.
A procession will then set off towards the Church of St. Michael the Archangel, where at 19:00 p.m. Monsignor Angelo Spinillo will celebrate a mass in suffrage for the victims. The disaster was so devastating that it attracted national attention: journalists from the main newspapers were sent to the site and even the Royal Family of Savoy participated in the national mourning. The Duchess of Aosta and the Duke of Spoleto visited the disaster area on March 27, followed by King Vittorio Emanuele III the following day.
The government of the time reacted promptly: upon direct information of the disaster, the Minister of the Navy organized a rescue operation that left from Naples with medical supplies and food. The fascist regime of Benito Mussolini also intervened, making available a large sum of money for immediate needs.
The tragedy also aroused the spiritual solidarity of Pope Pius XI, who celebrated a mass in suffrage for the victims and commissioned Monsignor Grassi, Archbishop of Salerno, to express his condolences and support for the affected populations. In addition to remembering the victims, this year's commemoration reflects on the broader significance of this tragedy as one of the most dramatic environmental events of the 20th century in Italy.
Article published on 22 April 2024 - 10:28
