Sicilian Town Niscemi Teeters on Edge as Cyclone Harry Triggers Massive Landslide
A hilltop town in Sicily is facing a dire situation after a powerful storm unleashed a dramatic landslide, leaving houses perilously perched on a cliff edge and forcing mass evacuations.
Evacuations and Immediate Threats
Approximately 1,500 residents have been evacuated from their homes in Niscemi, a town of about 25,000 people in southern Sicily. The landslide, which began showing signs of movement on Sunday, has developed into a 4km-long chasm that continues to widen, raising fears it could swallow the town's historic centre.
Massimiliano Conti, the mayor of Niscemi, described the event as a dramatic landslide in a social media video, urging people beyond cordoned-off areas to stay home. He emphasised the gravity of the situation, stating, "I don't want anyone to take this event lightly. Fortunately there were no injuries, only damage to homes."
Images and videos reveal homes on the verge of collapse, with Salvatore Cocina, director general of Sicily's civil protection authority, warning on Monday night that all homes within a 50-70 metre radius are expected to collapse.
Ongoing Crisis and Community Impact
The landslide dropped by another 10 metres earlier on Tuesday morning, according to Mayor Conti, who expressed shock at aerial images showing Niscemi collapsing. In an interview with La Repubblica, he admitted, "There's no denying it – we're scared." He highlighted that the creaking continues, and rain is hampering both relief operations and technical surveys.
A serious concern is that the town could be cut off, with Conti noting, "We're monitoring the situation non-stop, because the situation could change at any moment." Schools remained closed on Tuesday, and a road connecting Niscemi with the coastal city of Gela has been shut down.
Many of those evacuated are staying with relatives, but hundreds have spent the past two nights sheltering in a local sports arena, underscoring the community's displacement and uncertainty.
Broader Storm Damage and Government Response
The landslide was triggered by Cyclone Harry, a powerful storm that battered southern Italy last week with relentless rain and waves as high as 9 metres. The cyclone wreaked havoc in Sicily, Calabria, and Sardinia, destroying roads and coastal defences and sweeping away beach resorts.
The Italian government declared a state of emergency for the affected regions on Monday, with the cost of damage estimated at over €1 billion. Sicily alone has suffered about €740 million in damage, although the island's president, Renato Schifani, warned the final amount could double.
To address immediate needs, the government has set aside an initial €100 million. Civil protection minister Nello Musumeci stated in a release, "In the coming days, the government will adopt a new interministerial measure to allow the restoration and reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure."
This crisis highlights the severe impact of extreme weather events on vulnerable communities, with ongoing monitoring and relief efforts critical to mitigating further disaster in Niscemi.
