Storm Vaia anniversary marks eight years since Italian devastation

Eight years ago, the extra-tropical cyclone Vaia struck Northeast Italy, causing unprecedented destruction between October 27 and 30, 2018. The storm brought wind gusts exceeding 200 km/h, resulting in at least 16 fatalities across the country.

The storm caused the largest recorded damage to forest heritage in Italy, affecting 42,500 hectares of woodland across 494 municipalities in Lombardy, Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Approximately 8.6 million cubic meters of wood were felled.

In addition to the forest devastation, heavy rainfall and extreme weather led to a historic high tide in Venice, noted as one of the most exceptional in recent decades. Veneto President Alberto Stefani noted that while the landscapes of the Dolomites remain marked by the event, the region has shown significant resilience and recovery.