The 1773 Cava de’ Tirreni Flash Flood (Southern Italy), an Opportunity to Further Enhance the Use of Documentary Sources as Hazard and Risk Assessment

Abstract

A major hydrogeological problem affecting the Amalfi coast (Southern Italy) involves slope-related processes mainly due to flash floods typically characterized by landslides of debris flow type. These processes are generated on slopes and interact heavily with river dynamics, mobilizing huge quantities of material which are then carried by the water course. In the area of Cava de’ Tirreni, phenomena of torrential spate have occurred regularly in historical times due to the presence of volcaniclastic deposits and soils on slopes which are very prone to being mobilized and washed away during rainfall events. For the historical reconstruction of the 11–12th November 1773 flood event, over one hundred archival sources contemporary to the event were examined, as well as many bibliographic sources. The conclusions of our research were compared and integrated with results from updated literature.