Govt to do its part to remove causes of Bardonecchia flood says Musumeci

(see related) (ANSA) - ROME, AUG 14 - The government will do its part to eliminate the structural causes that led to the flooding of Bardonecchia in Piemonte's Val de Susa on Sunday night, Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci said on Monday.
    "The situation in Bordonecchia [. ..] has remained under constant surveillance since the flooding that hit the town with mud and debris," said Musumeci.
    "There were no victims, fortunately, and a few dozen people were displaced.
    "The Civil Defence and the fire brigade are working tirelessly, with the cooperation of the police, while we remain on the alert for the possible return of bad weather in the coming hours," added the minister.
    "Needless to say, the government, to the extent of its competence, will do its part to eliminate the structural causes that led to the calamity," he added.
    On Sunday night a wave of mud and debris swept through Bardonecchia after a landslide above the town caused the rivers Merdovine and Frejus to burst their banks.
    Bardonecchia is a popular tourist destination in summer and on Monday some holidaymakers started to leave.
    "The data collected show that consolidation and monitoring works had already been financed in the area," said Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto in a statement.
    "In fact, on the basis of the data made available by the ReNDiS project, more than 5.5 million euros worth of hydrogeological risk mitigation interventions have been carried out in the municipality of Bardonecchia," he added.
    "However, it is a territory with a high level of risk and as more rain is expected, it will be necessary to put the population on alert," Pichetto continued. (ANSA).