{"id":2560674,"date":"2026-02-01T09:24:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-01T14:24:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/massive-landslide-rips-through-small-town-forces-mass-evacuation\/"},"modified":"2026-02-01T09:27:59","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T14:27:59","slug":"massive-landslide-rips-through-small-town-forces-mass-evacuation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/massive-landslide-rips-through-small-town-forces-mass-evacuation\/","title":{"rendered":"Massive Landslide Rips Through Small Town, Forces Mass Evacuation"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmassive-landslide-rips-through-small-town-forces-mass-evacuation%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2560674&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>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\u2019s civil protection director warned that homes within a 50\u201370 meter zone are at risk of collapse.<\/p>\n<p>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, \u201cThe entire hill is collapsing onto the plain of Gela.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Geologists say Niscemi sits on sand and clay layers prone to saturation and movement in heavy rain\u2014similar to a 1997 landslide that evacuated 400 people. The government pledged \u20ac100 million for affected areas, while Sicily\u2019s president estimated damages at about \u20ac740 million so far, warning the final toll could be much higher. Ongoing assessments and recovery planning are underway.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Niscemi, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/colorado-gov-faces-backlash-over-feliz-navidad-holiday-message-released-amid-migrant-crisis\/\" title=\"Colorado Gov. receives criticism for &#039;Feliz Navidad&#039; message during migrant crisis\">small town located<\/a> in the southwestern part of Sicily, was affected by a landslide that spanned 2.5 miles, the Associated Press reported. Salvatore Cocina, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sinkhole-in-italy-cuts-power-from-hospital\/\" title=\"Sinkhole in Italy cuts power from hospital\">director general<\/a> of Sicily&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >civil protection authority<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/jan\/27\/niscemi-sicily-landslide-chasm-storm-cyclone-harry\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">stated<\/a> that all homes within a 50-70 meter radius will collapse as a result of the disaster, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/jan\/27\/niscemi-sicily-landslide-chasm-storm-cyclone-harry\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">according<\/a> to The Guardian.<\/p>\n<p>The Italian government declared a state of emergency in Sicily, Sardinia, and Calabria on Monday following <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wantedinrome.com\/news\/storm-harry-batters-southern-italy-sicily-and-sardinia.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cyclone Harry&rsquo;s<\/a> damage to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/covid-19-hospitalizations-rising-in-north-falling-in-south-and-the-media-is-silent\/\" title=\"Covid-19 Hospitalizations Rising In North, Falling In South, And The Media Is Silent\">southern parts<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/news.sky.com\/story\/the-entire-hill-is-collapsing-landslide-in-sicily-causes-homes-to-fall-off-cliff-edge-1-500-evacuated-13500094\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sky News<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The entire hill is collapsing onto the plain of Gela,&rdquo; Ciliano said, Sky News reported. &ldquo;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.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadScript(src) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=src; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.async=true; \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.body.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);  \t\t\t\t\t\tif (targetIndex===-1 || targetIndex <x) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\treturn paragraphs[targetIndex - x]; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver \t\t\t\t\tfunction observeElement(element) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!element) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer=new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries)=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadScript(\"https:\/\/embed.sendtonews.com\/player3\/embedcode.js?fk=s28Az7AY\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #stnvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#stnvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>The Italian government has pledged to set aside &euro;100 million to support affected areas, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/jan\/27\/niscemi-sicily-landslide-chasm-storm-cyclone-harry\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Guardian report<\/a>. Sicilian president Renato Schifani said Sicily has likely suffered &euro;740 million in damages at the time being and warned the final amount could be double.<\/p>\n<div class=\"disclaimer\">\n<p><em>All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter&rsquo;s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/mailto:licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org\">licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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