Friday saw an inordinate amount of rain in Messina which caused mudslides going through several small villages in the east of the island. So far 24 bodies were found with 39 still missing. 29 people are recovering in hospital while at least 600 people have lost their homes.
In places the mud was seven metres (25 feet) deep and civil protection teams and firefighters, four sniffer dog units and more than 200 volunteers were searching through the devastated area.
Roads are cut and the only way for rescuers to reach the area is to walk along rail tracks.
The Prime Minister visited the area on Sunday promising a reconstruction effort similar to the one of Abruzzo - new houses built in a different area for the victims. Taxes will also be blocked for those affected as well as credit repayments.
Berlusconi as well as other politicians visiting the area had to avoid protesters however who blame the tragedy on government inaction. The fear of landslides had been raised two years ago when heavy rainfall caused a landslide with no victims.
Several buildings in the area where built with no permit and no controls.
People were also protesting against the 6.1 billion euro bridge project of connecting Sicily to the mainland claiming that resolving issues such as security plans to prevent mudslides and imposing proper construction control are more important than a huge project with doubtful benefits.
President Giorgio Napolitano called last week for investment in "a serious security plan, instead of monumental works," in reference to the bridge for which Berlusconi has been pushing for years.
The opposition Democratic Party said that on Sunday Berlusconi behaved "like the head of civil protection (instead of) rethinking his political choices in terms of the environment and land."
