Five months have passed since Hurricane Harry, and the damage is still visible, but there is no sign of the aid promised by the Region and the Government in Pula . From the archaeological excavations in Nora to the coast of Santa Margherita, with emergencies even affecting the mountainous area of Is Cannoneris : the toll from the natural disaster that struck Pula and other coastal towns on the island last January is steep , and it's clear that the Municipality will not be able to resolve these emergencies alone.
Mayor Walter Cabasino is appealing to higher-level authorities, no longer to save this tourist season, but next year's : "We are seriously concerned; the damage exceeds €14 million . We have tried to stem the effects with our own resources, but it's clear that without the aid promised by the Region and the Government, we won't be able to resolve the long list of critical issues caused by the hurricane. The road leading to the Nora Archaeological Park is seriously damaged, and will be a problem for heavy vehicles carrying equipment for the summer performances. During the excavations, the damage in the Punic quarter is extensive; the road leading to the Sardinian House, which hosts children's workshops, is seriously damaged. The Temple of Aesculapius is also a cause for concern."
On Nora beach, the shoreline has retreated nine meters, and the embankment protecting the little church of Sant'Efisio no longer exists: the municipality recently removed and relocated 500 cubic meters of seagrass. And then there's the Santa Margherita coastline, where traffic is severely compromised. "One section is closed, while the other is alternating traffic," says Cabasino, "a major problem given that there are kiosks and campsites in that area. The situation is also very delicate beneath the Cala d'Ostia tower, where the waves have destroyed a wall. We've also asked the ANCI (Italian Municipality) to intervene: it's not the tourist season that's at stake, but the upcoming ones."
Daniela Falconi, president of ANCI Sardinia, is ready to convene a summit with all the coastal municipalities affected by the hurricane and all the relevant authorities: "I fully understand the distress of municipal administrators, forced to address the emergency with their own resources. Unfortunately, bureaucracy has slowed the arrival of funding. At the meeting, we will ask for action to be taken as quickly as possible to make up for lost time: those affected by the hurricane cannot wait any longer."
