Sicily landslide forces evacuation of 1,500

Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni toured the Sicilian town of Niscemi on Wednesday after a massive landslide, triggered by days of heavy rain, tore away part of the town’s edge, destroying homes and forcing more than 1,500 residents to evacuate.

The landslide spanned roughly 4 kilometers (2.5 miles), prompting civil protection crews to establish a 150-meter-wide “no-go zone.”

“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,” civil protection chief Fabio Ciciliano said.

Officials warned that many residents living in that area will not be able to return, as the water-soaked territory remains dangerously unstable.

A town built on sand and clay

Several cars and buildings were carried about 20 meters down the slope, while other houses remain dangerously standing on unstable ground overlooking the plain of Gela.

“The entire hill is collapsing onto the plain of Gela,” Ciciliano said.

Niscemi was built on layers of sand and clay. These conditions have made it impossible to keep the structures stable amid heavy rain. This is not the first time a major landslide has happened in Niscemi, the most recent being in 1997 when 400 people were evacuated from the town.

The government has declared a state of emergency for the region on Monday and set aside an initial €100 million ($120 million), though regional officials estimate the total damage could reach €2 billion.

The disaster set off political debate over construction in high-risk areas.

Edited by: Sean Sinico