Videos shared on social media depict the moment when a debris flow hit the town of Bardonecchia in Italy.
Around 9:00 PM on Sunday, a loud rumble was heard caused by a debris flow.
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Reports suggest a river of mud and debris crossed the city due to the overflow of the Frejus river, damaging streets, basements, and parked cars.
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Experts refer to this as a “debris flow” or “landslide”. An event which, according to Mayor Chiara Rossetti, was abnormal and unforeseeable.
It all originated from a storm concentrated in a small portion of the mountain.
Masses of mud and water fell into the Frejus river. Part of the material was retained by structures known as ‘brakes’, but the remainder overtook the stream and descended into the town.
The scene this morning in Bardonecchia along the Frejus course was surreal: the stream had reverted to little more than a trickle, but the riverbed was five or six meters higher.
One of the bridges was indistinguishable, completely engulfed by the mud mass.
Civil protection agents, firefighters, police, carabinieri, and even French police officers; more than two hundred individuals began working to clean up and lend a hand.
Photos and Videos: Twitter @volcaholic1 and @liv59224.
