An evacuee reports "It was raining so loudly that we couldn't hear the landslide next door"
Davide Botta, 30, recounts the anxious hours when he and around 200 other people had to be evacuated by helicopter from the trapped Piano di Peccia after heavy storms in the Maggia Valley.
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- Davide Botta was at a football tournament in the Ticino hamlet of Piano di Peccia.
- At the time, the visitors in the marquee were unaware that a mudslide had cut them off from the outside world.
- The isolated people were flown out by army Super Pumas.
It was supposed to be a cozy football tournament in the small Ticino hamlet of Piano di Peccia in the municipality of Lavizzara in the rear Maggia Valley. "It's a manageable area, 30 or 40 houses, 1,000 meters above sea level," says Davide Botta, who attended the event with two brothers and colleagues.
What he had no idea at the time was that the sporty and sociable weekend would end for him and the other visitors to the event on Sunday evening in an evacuation by military helicopter.
Calm before the storm: football match in Piano di Peccia on Saturday afternoon.
Image: Privat: Davide Botta
Exuberant atmosphere during the Switzerland-Italy match.
Image: Privat: Davide Botta
Heavy rain and power failure in the marquee around midnight.
Image: Privat: Davide Botta
Improvised night camp with plastic blankets.
Image: Privat: Davide Botta
Rega lands on the football pitch at around 5.30 am.
Image: Privat: Davide Botta
View of the devastation early on Sunday morning.
Image: Privat: Davide Botta
A view of the devastation early on Sunday morning.
Image: Privat: Davide Botta
Debris avalanche and debris flow in Piano di Peccia on 30.6.2024.
Image: Privat: Davide Botta
Debris avalanche in Piano di Peccia on 30.6.2024.
Image: Privat: Davide Botta
Waiting for the evacuation early Sunday morning.
Image: Privat: Davide Botta
The festival site in Piano di Peccia from above.
Image: www.tio.ch
The evacuation of the site begins on Sunday afternoon.
Image: Privat: Davide Botta
The first passengers board the Super Puma.
Image: Privat: Davide Botta
Evacuation by military helicopter.
Image: Privat: Davide Botta
Calm before the storm: football match in Piano di Peccia on Saturday afternoon.
Image: Privat: Davide Botta
Exuberant atmosphere during the Switzerland-Italy match.
Image: Privat: Davide Botta
Heavy rain and power failure in the marquee around midnight.
Image: Privat: Davide Botta
Improvised night camp with plastic blankets.
Image: Privat: Davide Botta
Rega lands on the football pitch at around 5.30 am.
Image: Privat: Davide Botta
View of the devastation early on Sunday morning.
Image: Privat: Davide Botta
A view of the devastation early on Sunday morning.
Image: Privat: Davide Botta
Debris avalanche and debris flow in Piano di Peccia on 30.6.2024.
Image: Privat: Davide Botta
Debris avalanche in Piano di Peccia on 30.6.2024.
Image: Privat: Davide Botta
Waiting for the evacuation early Sunday morning.
Image: Privat: Davide Botta
The festival site in Piano di Peccia from above.
Image: www.tio.ch
The evacuation of the site begins on Sunday afternoon.
Image: Privat: Davide Botta
The first passengers board the Super Puma.
Image: Privat: Davide Botta
Evacuation by military helicopter.
Image: Privat: Davide Botta
Davide Botta is an electrical engineer from Avegno and now lives in Sissach BL. The amateur footballer explains: "After the traditional football tournament on Saturday afternoon, we watched the match between Switzerland and Italy. The atmosphere was great." It was raining, but the revelers found shelter in the marquee.
Power cut at midnight
Outside, meanwhile, the situation worsened. "The rain got heavier and heavier before midnight. And then suddenly the power went out," reports Botta. The event organizers informed the fire department. They advised the 200 or so people present not to leave the tent.
Botta describes the atmosphere in the tent as calm but tense. "There was no more music and no lights. The organizers were handing out water and cola."
No connection to the outside world
The people in the dark marquee didn't know at the time that a mudslide had cut them off from the outside world and that the way back to the village center was blocked: "It was raining so loudly that we couldn't hear parts of the mountain falling nearby."
It was probably better that they didn't notice the mudslide, the debris flow and the destruction it caused. "We didn't know how bad it was." As there was no cell phone reception, the most they worried about was their relatives and friends. "We couldn't inform our families that we were stuck."
Davide Botta didn't sleep that night. Others lay down on the cold floor of the marquee or slept on tables and benches. Many were freezing in their damp clothes and tried to warm themselves with plastic blankets or aluminum foil.
Rega reaches the trapped people
Around 5 a.m., when it finally got light, the extent of the destruction slowly became apparent. "We saw the terrible hail and the destruction right around the marquee. A van parked behind the marquee was almost swept away by a debris flow. I was impressed. We heard rumors about the destroyed bridge in Cevio. But no one had any official information."
At 5.30 a.m., a Rega helicopter reaches the trapped victims. Once the medics had established that everyone was healthy and well cared for, they flew on without passengers to places where they were needed more urgently. "We had enough to eat and drink, as the event was officially supposed to last until Sunday," explains Botta.
Waiting for evacuation
The tournament OC did a great job anyway, says Botta. "They kept us informed every few hours." And so those trapped by the storm kept calm despite the challenging situation.
At around 1 p.m., police officers landed at the football pitch in a helicopter. "They informed us that we would be evacuated later that afternoon with Super Pumas." Many celebrated when the news came - out of relief and perhaps also in anticipation of the unexpected, albeit tragic, helicopter flight.
The evacuation went smoothly and without any crowds. "It was impressive how big these military aircraft are. We were 16 passengers each, plus two pilots and two crew members."
Landing after 15 minutes
And then Botta saw the whole valley from above: "It was breathtaking to fly over the Bavona Valley, where there was an even bigger debris flow. I also saw the destroyed bridge in the Cevio Valley."
After 15 minutes, the helicopter landed in Aurigeno, TI. Botta's father picked him and his brothers up: "What are you doing?" he asked, relieved to be reunited with his sons.
The experience made a lasting impression on Botta, he says. "But not deterred. From now on, I will perhaps keep a closer eye on the weather and the associated dangers."
Will he return to the valley soon? Davide Botta doesn't know. But: "My father's car is still at the festival site." Even on Tuesday evening, it is still unclear when the rear valleys of the Maggia will be accessible by car again. The authorities are currently investigating whether the pedestrian bridge in Cevio, which has remained intact, can be provisionally used by cars.
SDA
