‘Situation is dire’ for Sicily town teetering on cliff edge after landslide

1,500 people evacuated from Niscemi after battering by Cyclone Harry triggers 4km-long chasm in hillside

‘Situation is dire’ for Sicily town teetering on cliff edge after landslide

TL;DR

  • A powerful storm caused a large landslide in Niscemi, Sicily.
  • Approximately 1,500 people have been evacuated from their homes.
  • Houses are perilously close to the cliff edge, with fears of the historic center collapsing.
  • The landslide continues to widen, dropping by 10 meters on Tuesday morning.
  • Schools are closed, and a key road connecting Niscemi to Gela is shut.
  • The Italian government declared a state of emergency for storm-battered southern regions.
  • Damage from recent storms is estimated at over €1 billion, with Sicily accounting for about €740 million.