A cyclone of unimaginable magnitude struck Sicily, Sardinia, and Calabria on the night of January 20, 2026 (video here). An event as new and incredible as it was, fortunately, monitored: the warnings announced three days in advance allowed the population to escape and save their lives. The damage was considerable, with coastlines completely devastated and infrastructure destroyed almost everywhere, but there were no deaths or injuries. The event surprised people because—especially in Sicily—we had never experienced anything like it. We were always told that “Etna breaks the winds” and therefore would always protect us from these situations. So what went wrong?
Conspiracy theories and dramatic reality
The silly conspiracy theories on the internet immediately took hold. There was talk of chemtrails, ships generating tsunamis, and other nonsense fed to frightened people just to get clicks and easy profits. But the harsh reality is that, with the climate changes currently underway, the gigantic mass of our volcano is no longer enough to “break the winds.” Conditions can be created where two powerful winds—such as the Eastern Wind and the Sirocco—combine, creating cyclones and storms. And these, arriving from the sea, are not broken by the encounter with the body of Etna.
We must accept that climate change is not an election slogan. It is a reality already underway. It doesn’t matter who is to blame… there’s no point in babbling about what or who might be causing it… only one thing matters: finding a way to adapt, changing our way of thinking and building, but also changing the way we stem the sea. We could begin to do this, for example, by seeking advice from those countries that know hurricanes well: the United States, the Philippines, Japan. And learn from them.
The lava resists
The symbol of the resistance of Sicily and the Sicilians, in recent days, has become the statue of Nike in Giardini Naxos. This “headless angel,” sculpted in bronze by artist Carmelo Mendola, stood in the center of a small square overlooking the sea, behind the Giardini port and with a spectacular view of Taormina. It depicts a mythological figure dear to the ancient Greeks, to whom Giardini Naxos owes its birth, and is built on a lava strip.
Lava in Giardini Naxos? So far from Etna? Yes, indeed… It’s Capo Schisò, an “anomalous” cliff that bears witness to an ancient eruption. Until 1980, it was believed that this eruption was generated by the now extinct Mojo crater located near the Alcantara River. But further, more sophisticated studies have revealed that the lava at Capo Schisò comes from a lateral eruption of Etna that began from the northern flank about 10,000 years ago!
Anchored to this solid black rock, the statue of Nike has effectively withstood the fury of the wind and the sea. The waves devastated the entire surrounding square, as well as the road and the small adjacent park. But the rock on which the statue stands remained intact and, from now on, surrounded on three sides by the sea!
Have we learned our lesson?
The lesson to be learned from this dramatic event is not just one, but many. We have learned that climate change is no joke. We have learned that the lava of our Mount Etna is a certainty, that it resists time and the elements. We have learned that, although our volcano often protects us, nature is always the master of our destiny. And respecting it is an absolute obligation, especially when it comes to how and where to build. (PHOTOS BY G. MUSUMECI)