Summary
Highlights
The narrative then turns to the 1959 Pontesei Dam incident, a smaller dam built by Semenza with Penta's consultation. Signs of instability, including noises, yellowish water, tree inclinations, and ground fissures, indicated a growing landslide. Efforts to lower the water level paradoxically accelerated the slide, ultimately killing a watchman. This event serves as a stark warning for the Vajont, predicting potential consequences for the towns perched on ancient landslides.
The performer welcomes the audience to the 'Vajont Dam Theater,' setting the stage for a 'live broadcast of memory.' He introduces the core event: on October 9, 1963, a 260-million-cubic-meter landslide from Mount Toc plunged into the Vajont reservoir, displacing a 50-million-cubic-meter wave of water that wiped out five villages and killed 2,000 people. He shares his personal memory of the day, as a child learning about the destruction of Longarone.
The performer quotes journalist Giorgio Bocca, who described the disaster as a 'clean catastrophe' caused by indifferent nature. He then contrasts this with Dino Buzzati's article, which praises the Vajont Dam as a 'masterpiece,' noting that the dam itself remained standing, leading to a sense of 'consolation' for some. The performer recalls how, as a child, he also felt this ambiguous pride in the dam's resilience, despite the devastation in the valley below.
The narrative shifts to the performer discovering Tina Merlin's book, 'On Live Skin: How a Catastrophe is Built - The Vajont Case.' He learns about Merlin, a journalist for 'L'Unità' and a partisan during WWII, who provided a 'falcon's-eye view' of the events, observing prior to the disaster. Merlin focused on the villages of Erto and Casso, which were not destroyed but significantly damaged and often overlooked. Her investigative work highlighted the conflicts between the local communities and the SADE (Società Adriatica Di Elettricità), the company constructing the dam.
The SADE, described as a 'Fiat of hydroelectric companies' led by Giuseppe Volpi, Conte di Misurata, is introduced. Volpi, a prominent figure in Italian industry and politics, secured favorable laws for hydroelectric projects. The performer explains the Italian emphasis on exploiting water resources for energy, leading to the idea of the Vajont reservoir as a 'water bank' for the Piave River. The valley of Erto and Casso, a deep gorge, was chosen for the ambitious 'Grande Vajont' project, with a dam designed to hold 150 million cubic meters of water, making it the highest in the world at the time.
The project's approval, even during wartime in 1943 through dubious means, underscores SADE's influence. The company's acquisition of land, often through forced expropriations and deceptive practices, is detailed, creating debt among the locals. The resistance of the Erto and Casso communities against SADE is depicted, leading to the formation of committees. The narrative highlights the local priest's and mayor's support for the villagers, pushing SADE to increase compensation. A key moment is Mayor Gallo's decision to accept a private deal, causing further division.
SADE's controversial decision to increase the dam's height by an additional 61.6 meters, vastly expanding the reservoir's capacity, is discussed. Engineers Carlo Semenza (dam designer) and Giorgio Dal Piaz (geologist), veterans of the 1929 initial survey, are central figures. Dal Piaz expresses serious concerns about the expanded project, stating it makes his 'veins tremble.' The Ministry's superficial oversight and the appointment of a compromised 'testing commission' (Collegio di Collaudo), including a geologist (Penta) previously paid by SADE, expose the lack of independent control. The commission's visit is described as a superficial affair, more concerned with social events than thorough inspection.
Leopold Muller, an Austrian geomechanic expert, is finally brought in by SADE. His extensive studies reveal a massive, ancient landslide on the Toc mountain with a two-kilometer front and an 'M' shape, far larger than initially believed. This contradicts the findings of Caloi, another consultant, who suggested a superficial landslide. This disagreement leads to a scientific dispute, with SADE largely dismissing warnings to push forward with construction. The critical reports of young geologists Edoardo Semenza (Carlo's son) and Franco Giudici, who independently confirm Muller's dire assessment, are ultimately sidelined by the engineering leadership.
The collapse of the Fréjus Dam in France in December 1959, killing 400 people, serves as a chilling parallel, forcing Semenza to reconsider. Despite the warnings, SADE decides to press ahead, proposing an expensive bypass tunnel to mitigate the effects of an inevitable landslide by ensuring water flow even if the main channel is blocked. This decision highlights SADE's commitment to protecting the dam's function over the safety of the downstream communities.
In November 1960, Tina Merlin is acquitted in a trial for publishing 'false news threatening public order' after the November 4th landslide at Vajont validates her warnings. The nationalization of electricity companies by ENEL in 1962 complicates matters. While SADE transfers the Vajont plant to ENEL, it remains in temporary custody, and the transfer agreement deceptively states it's a 'functioning plant,' despite pending tests. This setup allows SADE to prioritize completing the dam for maximum profit before the final handover, pushing for higher water levels against expert recommendations.
The show reveals that a hydraulic model experiment conducted by Professor Augusto Ghetti of the University of Padua, commissioned by SADE, identified the catastrophic potential of a landslide-induced wave, particularly if the water level exceeded 700 meters. The model showed that at 715 meters, the wave would be devastating. Despite these clear findings, SADE instructs the water level to be raised to 715 meters for the third test-filling. Ghetti's crucial report, recommending not exceeding 700 meters, is buried, demonstrating a deliberate disregard for public safety.
Throughout 1962 and 1963, despite continuous tremors, ground fissures, and alarming reports from technicians and locals, SADE and later ENEL-SADE continue raising the water level. Local officials who try to intervene face legal action. Engineer Alberico Biadene (SADE's VP) downplays seismic activity, suppressing reports. The 'M' shape of the landslide is now evident at the surface, moving at an accelerating pace. In October 1963, with the landslide moving rapidly, an urgent evacuation order is issued for areas *on* the Toc mountain, while Longarone, downstream, receives no warning.
On the evening of October 9, 1963, as the landslide intensifies, a technician observes the mountain moving in front of his eyes. Communications between SADE personnel reveal awareness of the impending catastrophe, yet no general alarm is raised for Longarone, which is bustling with people watching a football match. The final moments before the landslide are described: the mountain tearing away, roaring, and collapsing into the reservoir. The resulting 250-meter wave splits into two: one devastates villages upstream, while the other, a 70-meter-high wall of water, races downstream.
Longarone is engulfed by a compressed air blast before the water hits, equivalent to two atomic bombs, incinerating everything. The ensuing water wave, travelling at 70 km/h, pulverizes the town, leaving behind only mud and debris. The scale of death is immense, with many bodies unrecoverable, leading to chaotic burials. In the aftermath, the media, notably Montanelli, demonizes those who questioned the official 'act of God' narrative, branding them 'jackals.' The performer concludes by describing his father's experience the next morning, witnessing rescue efforts collecting bodies from the Piave River. He calls for remembrance and urges the audience to stand in silent tribute, equating their silence to a powerful song for the victims.