A severe landslide has struck Niscemi, a small town in Sicily, following the onslaught of Cyclone Harry. As reported by the Associated Press, the catastrophic landslide, stretching an alarming 2.5 miles, has forced the evacuation of 1,500 residents. The situation is dire, with homes around 50 to 70 meters from the disaster site at risk of imminent collapse. Salvatore Cocina, director general of Sicily’s civil protection authority, has flagged significant safety concerns.
The impact of Cyclone Harry prompted the Italian government to declare a state of emergency across several regions, including Sicily, Sardinia, and Calabria. This declaration came on the heels of the cyclone causing widespread damage in southern Italy earlier in January. Responding swiftly to the disaster, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni conducted an aerial assessment of Niscemi via helicopter on Wednesday, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.
Fabio Ciciliano, the head of civil protection, provided a sobering outlook for some residents, stating that certain areas of Niscemi may never be habitable again. He noted that parts of the town are literally collapsing, leading to the necessity for relocating affected families permanently. “The entire hill is collapsing onto the plain of Gela,” Ciciliano remarked, underlining the precarious status of those homes perched on the edge of the landslide.
The geological vulnerabilities of Niscemi, built atop layers of sand and clay, have left it susceptible to such disasters. This is not the first incident of its kind; a significant landslide in 1997 also led to the evacuation of around 400 people. These historical events highlight the ongoing risks associated with heavy rainfall in the area.
In light of the devastation, the Italian government has promised €100 million to aid affected regions, although current estimates from Sicilian President Renato Schifani suggest that the damages could total €740 million, with the potential for that figure to double in the coming assessments. The situation remains fluid, as recovery efforts and assessments continue in the wake of this environmental catastrophe.
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