Portopalo raises its head: after the fury of cyclone Harry, work begins at the eastern pier

The renovation works of the eastern pier, destroyed by cyclone Harry, were inaugurated this morning. Absent was the President of the Region, Renato Schifani, who was blocked by the flu; it was Portopalo Mayor Rachele Rocca who welcomed the guests. Present, representing the implementing body, was Engineer Duilio Longi, appointed by the President of the Sicilian Region, engaged in coordinating the structures working to address the consequences of cyclone Harry and the landslide in Niscemi.

“President Schifani – said Mayor Rocca – asked me to convey his greetings and his closeness to our community and the local fishing industry. This morning we proceeded with the handover of urgent works that will allow us to start the restoration interventions of the port heavily affected by the meteorological events of January.”

From today, work begins. The construction sites have started while a technical operational table is already underway to identify all the necessary solutions to ensure the usability of the port area during the months when restoration interventions will take place, allowing fishermen to continue working.

“In just a few weeks – added the Mayor of Portopalo – we have gone from emergency to construction sites, to defend the port, the work of our fishing industry, and the future of this territory.” The works have been awarded, through the urgent procedure, by the Civil Engineering Department of Syracuse to the Consortium Medil of Benevento. The amount is just over 1.3 million euros. The restoration interventions must be completed within six months.

Among those present was also the Chief Engineer of the Civil Engineering Department of Syracuse, Maurizio Vaccaro, Project Manager Luigi Di Natali, and Designer Gino Montecchi.

“We are working swiftly – stated President Schifani – to restore operability and safety to the quay and allow Portopalo fishing boats to return to using the port structure as soon as possible and without risks. A moment of restart after the damage caused by cyclone Harry and a demonstration of the efficiency of the apparatus I have activated to address the consequences of the exceptional adverse events that have affected Sicily in recent months. We have mobilized the necessary resources and dozens of works have already started, with more to be initiated in the coming days. We will not stop and we will not leave anyone behind. My government and I are constantly and daily committed to addressing the emergencies.