Firefighters in Sicily rescue 400 rare books from library after landslide

"The library stands on the lip of the precipice gouged out by the landslide, with part of the building in effect hanging in mid-air. The recovery operation, which began on Monday, was preceded by a detailed study of floor plans and interior photographs to map the position of the books. Firefighters drilled through the wall of a building behind the structure and entering for minutes at a time, strapped the bookcases together and hauled them backwards to reach the books."

"A drone streamed live aerial images to a monitor on the ground, while laser sensors fixed to the section teetering over the drop were used to detect the slightest movement. A separate device monitored vibrations and subtle shifts in the building's tilt. The landslide began on 25 January when the ground started to shift, cracking asphalt and tearing through buildings."

"It was like pulling off a bank heist, said Salvatore Cantale, the provincial commander of the fire brigade in Caltanissetta. We had to be quick and try to take away as much as we could. The library holds about 4,000 books of literature, history and general nonfiction, including a number of rare editions dating from before 1830 on Sicilian history."

A devastating landslide in Niscemi, Sicily on January 25 carved a 4-kilometer chasm through the town, leaving a library precariously positioned on the precipice with part of the building suspended in mid-air. Firefighters conducted a carefully planned rescue operation beginning Monday to recover approximately 400 rare books from the library's collection of 4,000 volumes, including rare editions dating before 1830 and a precious 16th-century book on Sicilian history. The operation required detailed floor plan analysis, drone surveillance, laser sensors to detect movement, and vibration monitoring devices. Firefighters drilled through adjacent building walls and worked in brief intervals, securing bookcases and hauling them to safety. Approximately 1,600 residents were evacuated, with many rare volumes remaining in the high-risk basement area.

Read at www.theguardian.com