ItalyStorms Niscemi LandslideRisk Geohazards ExtremeWeather

Italy declares emergency after expanding landslide forces 1,500 evacuations in Niscemi

*Aerial view of the landslide cutting into the edge of Niscemi, Sicily, following days of heavy rainfall. Source: Newsday (image by AP/Alberto Lo Bianco)*

Italy has declared a state of emergency across several southern regions after Cyclone Harry unleashed severe storms that triggered a large and still-active landslide in the Sicilian town of Niscemi, forcing the evacuation of at least 1,500 residents and causing widespread disruption.

The landslide, driven by days of intense rainfall, has carved through a hillside on the edge of Niscemi, extending over roughly four kilometres and reaching depths of up to six metres. Authorities have expanded the safety exclusion zone from 100 to 150 metres as ground movement continues toward the town centre, raising concerns that further homes may be affected.

Homes and vehicles left precariously close to the shifting landslide front in southern Italy. Source: SnapShot 4K video (Reuters)

Italy’s Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci warned that the situation remains unstable, while Civil Protection Department head Fabio Ciciliano said the number of displaced residents could rise if movement persists. Several roads and all schools in Niscemi have been closed as a precaution.

The Italian government has allocated €100 million from its national emergency fund to support initial response measures across Sicily, Calabria and Sardinia, including debris removal, restoration of essential services and emergency assistance for affected families.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Niscemi by helicopter, as officials acknowledged that some homes near the landslide front may be permanently uninhabitable. Geologists noted that the town sits on layers of sand and clay that become highly unstable when saturated, a condition that has led to previous landslides in the area.

Elsewhere in Italy, the storm also triggered landslides along key transport routes, including the Via Aurelia coastal road near Genoa, underscoring the broader hydrogeological risks posed by the ongoing severe weather.