US Navy base on Sicily re-opens after flood-related closure
NAPLES, Italy — Officials at the U.S. Navy base on Sicily re-opened the base Wednesday about 4:15 p.m. after it had been closed about eight hours because of flooded roads leading to both Naval Air Station Sigonella I and II, a Navy spokesman said.
The base was closed to all nonessential personnel shortly before 8 a.m. Some children who had already left for the base school before the decision to close was made had to be bused home, officials said.
The main road leading from the Marinai housing area to NAS II was still flooded Wednesday afternoon, and drivers were advised to use SS 417 as an alternate.
There were no reported accidents or incidents involving U.S. personnel stationed at Sigonella, and the closure to nonessential personnel had been a precautionary measure, base spokesman Lt. Tim Page said. About 200 personnel — including fire emergency, hospital workers and those on on-duty status — are considered essential and were expected to remain on duty during the closure, Page said.
Base officials are expecting operations to be normal for Thursday.
It had been raining steadily and heavily on the island since late Tuesday.
