Accidents on Stromboli volcano

Tsunami of 30. December 2002: Report by Markus Benzer

On 27. December 2002 I went to Stromboli with five friends. Weather conditions caused the Aliscafo to take the northern route, along the base of La Sciara. There we noted extraordinarily strong activity of the volcano. The glow of ejected bombs was clearly seen in daylight.

On 28. December Christoph noted that the red glow of the clouds above Pizzo had become very prominent. I realized immediately that now lava must be flowing down the Sciara to the sea. Clemens, Ignaz and me quickly went to the observatory at Labronzo. Already walking through Piscita we got into an ash rain. All the village people seemed to be going towards La Sciara. Small cars (so-called Api) had to be left behind because ash and rain plastered the wind screens. We climbed to 400 m.a.s.l. where we met about 50 of the locals. What we saw was a remarkable spectacle.

Two lava flows were noisily descending to the sea. Steam and ash mixed and were carried towards us by the wind. Unfortunately the slide films were later destroyed in the tsunami. The image on the left is from a digital camera and gives at least a bit of an impression.

On the 29. the weather was rainy and cloudy, but on the 30. it was nice again. So I decided to go and get some photos. I sat alone in the house we had rented and which was near the beach. Then, for a brief moment, the electricity went out. There also was a strange rumbling sound which, however, I did not pay much attention to. I put on my large rucksack, left the house, and again the power went out. I then noticed water shooting on to the terrace. I had to reach safety immediately as the sea had been calm previously and because the house was only located three meters above sea level.

The tsunami approaches the coast (left) and floods the lowest part of the village. Photos Gianfranco Cincotta.

But then I saw an approaching wave several meters high. I could not get into the house any more, stood against the garden wall with my back to the sea but was immediately swept away. I have no memory of my "flight" and I only regained consciousness when the wave was over. I grabbed a small tree trunk and held on to that as the water tried to suck me out to the sea. At this very moment I did not consider a tsunami, although I actually knew this phenomenon. Instead I assumed the situation of 1930 was repeating, when the whole island was lifted one meter out of the sea and then sank back again.

Other tourists can escape from the tsunami (photos Philippe Guillemin).

I tried to stand up but saw that my right leg was injured. Looking up towards the volcano I saw that the sky was black. I then limped towards the next house to seek cover in case lava bombs would start to fall since, at that time, I did not know what had happened. I lay down on a bed (photo at the bottom of this page). Then I noticed a couple on the balcony. They had seen the wave approaching and had been able to escape to that safe spot. They were still in shock but I asked them to get help. After no more than ten minutes a group of helpers already arrived and I was taken to the medical station in an "Ape":

Markus Benzer is transported to the harbour after his accident.	X-ray of Markus Benzer's leg with plate and screws.

After the first aid I was taken to Hotel Ossidiana. From there, an Italian who had broken his foot and I were flown by helicopter to the University Hospital of Messina. On 2. January I was flown by Tyrol Air Ambulance to Innsbruck, Austria and on the following day I was operated in Hohenems. 10 months later the plate and nine screws could be removed from my leg.

Looking back I realize I had a great deal of luck. Since Carrying a large rucksack with a heavy tripod I may have been saved from mayor back injuries. Fortunately I also did not suffer any mental trauma, probably because I can fully reconstruct what had happened and since I was lucky despite the incredible force of the tsunami. Today I am in good health and continue to be fascinated by volcanoes.

The cooking spoon points exactly to the place where the wave threw Markus Bender against the wall and probably where his leg was broken.	The bed on which Markus Benzer waited is partially visible in the left foreground (photo Marco Fulle).