Remembering the Tragic Vajont Dam Disaster – 61 Years On
On this day, 61 years ago, the Vajont Dam disaster shook the Piave valley of northern Italy, claiming the lives of nearly 2,000 individuals, including 487 children. The night of 9 October 1963 left a scar on the region that is still felt today.
The catastrophe unfolded when a massive landslide crashed into the artificial reservoir created by the 260-metre high dam on the Vajont river, spanning across the Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto regions. This landslide, composed of approximately 260 million cubic meters of rock from Monte Toc, triggered an immense inland tsunami that surged up to 200 meters above the dam.
The tragedy struck unexpectedly at 22:39, plunging the surrounding area into darkness right before a colossal tidal wave, moving at 80 km/h, swept through the narrow valley below. Entire towns, including Longarone, were engulfed by the wall of water, resulting in the loss of around 80% of Longarone’s population and more than 300 whole families.
Neighboring villages like Faè, Pirago, Rivalta, and Villanova also faced devastation, with numerous lives lost and many bodies never recovered in the aftermath of the disaster.
Although the Vajont Dam itself remained standing after the tragedy, it was a stark reminder of the warnings ignored about the unstable geology of Monte Toc, the reservoir’s southern side. Designed by engineer Carlo Semenza in the 1920s, the dam’s construction began in the late 1950s by the Società Adriatica di Elettricità (SADE).
The dam was meant to harness hydroelectric power to meet the rising energy demands of the industrializing north, but the disaster highlighted the price of overlooking nature’s signs and warnings.
Regarded as the tallest dam in the world when inaugurated in 1960, the 262-metre high Vajont Dam was eventually nationalized by the Italian Ministry of Public Works. However, the tragedy prevented the reservoir from ever being refilled, serving as a poignant reminder of the lives lost and the mistakes made.
Last year, Italian President Sergio Mattarella commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Vajont tragedy by paying tribute to the victims at the Fortogna cemetery.
Veneto President Luca Zaia recently underlined the enduring pain and grief surrounding the disaster, describing it as a “still open wound” that continues to shape the memories of countless individuals and families.
