ARCUS Atlas record
Ponte sul Rio San Girolamo
Partial collapse of a bridge on the SS195 (or adjacent national road infrastructure) over the Rio San Girolamo at Capoterra (Cagliari, Sardinia) on 22 October 2008, as part of the catastrophic flash flood that struck the coastal area. The event caused 4 deaths: Speranza Sollai (drowned in her home), Licia Zucca and Antonello Porcu (swept away while driving near Poggio dei Pini), and Annarita Lepori (overwhelmed by the Rio San Girolamo in spate). The expert appointed by the court stated that 106 mm fell in 30 minutes — possibly the largest flash flood in Italian history. The judicial investigation charged 8 people including the ex-mayor of Capoterra, ex-ANAS directors (accused specifically of failing to demolish an obstructing bridge on the Rio San Girolamo which contributed to the overflow), and Genio Civile/Protezione Civile officials. All were acquitted in first degree (2017) and on appeal (2020). Reconstruction of the collapsed bridge infrastructure began in January 2021. Database ponti fluviali danneggiati di D'Angelo, Ballio & Ravazzani (2025), IJDRR 'Geomorphologic risk factors for river bridges', suppl. S3, record P053 (accuratezza diagnosi dec=1): processo = altro processo (es. colata detritica/frana); componenti danneggiate = rilevato di accesso; evidenza di sormonto = yes.
- ARCUS ID
- IT08.10.01
- Date
- 2008-10-22
- Municipality
- Capoterra
- Province
- Cagliari
- Region
- Sardegna
- Coordinates
- 39.1529, 8.9655 · exact location
- Crossing
- Rio San Girolamo
- Use
- National
- Severity
- PC
- Structural type
- Beam bridge
- Material
- Reinforced concrete
- Cause category
- Natural
- Specific cause
- Hydraulic
- Failure trigger
- Flood
- Failure process
- Other documented hydraulic process
- Component involved
- Approach embankment
- Cause evidence
- Documented
- Source confidence
- High
- Victims
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
Documentary sources (3)
- Alluvione Capoterra 2008: confermata l'assoluzione in appello per i quattro morti (News · ANSA · 2020-02-03)
- Alluvione Capoterra: esperto, in 700 anni mai un evento simile – 106mm in 30 minuti (News · ANSA · 2015-01-29)
- Alluvione 2008: al via demolizione e ricostruzione ponti a Capoterra (News · ANSA · 2021-01-11)