Massive Landslide Rips Through Small Town, Forces Mass Evacuation
A massive landslide struck Niscemi in southwestern Sicily after Cyclone Harry, forcing about 1,500 people to evacuate. The slide stretches roughly 2.5 miles, and Sicily’s civil protection director warned that homes within a 50–70 meter zone are at risk of collapse.
Italian authorities declared a state of emergency for Sicily, Sardinia and Calabria; Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Niscemi by helicopter. Civil protection officials saeid parts of the town are now uninhabitable and some residents will need permanent relocation, with one official noting, “The entire hill is collapsing onto the plain of Gela.”
Geologists say Niscemi sits on sand and clay layers prone to saturation and movement in heavy rain—similar to a 1997 landslide that evacuated 400 people. The government pledged €100 million for affected areas, while Sicily’s president estimated damages at about €740 million so far, warning the final toll could be much higher. Ongoing assessments and recovery planning are underway.
A massive landslide ravaged a small town in Sicily after a large cyclone hit the area, causing 1,500 people to be evacuated, according to the Associated Press.
Niscemi, a small town located in the southwestern part of Sicily, was affected by a landslide that spanned 2.5 miles, the Associated Press reported. Salvatore Cocina, the director general of Sicily’s civil protection authority, stated that all homes within a 50-70 meter radius will collapse as a result of the disaster, according to The Guardian.
The Italian government declared a state of emergency in Sicily, Sardinia, and Calabria on Monday following Cyclone Harry’s damage to southern parts of Italy earlier in January, the Associated Press reported. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Niscemi on Wednesday and took a helicopter tour of the town.
Italian civil protection chief Fabio Ciciliano said some residents will never be able to return home due to parts of Niscemi becoming uninhabitable, according to Sky News.
“The entire hill is collapsing onto the plain of Gela,” Ciliano said, Sky News reported. “To be honest, there are houses located on the edge of the landslide that obviously can no longer be inhabited, so we need to work with the mayor to find a permanent relocation for these families.”
Niscemi was built on a hill with layers of sand and clay vulnerable to becoming permeable to heavy rainfall, according to the Associated Press. Geologists said this would not be the first time the town shifted due to heavy rainfall, as it happened before in 1997, with major landslide causing 400 people to evacuate from the area.
The Italian government has pledged to set aside €100 million to support affected areas, according to a Guardian report. Sicilian president Renato Schifani said Sicily has likely suffered €740 million in damages at the time being and warned the final amount could be double.
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