• Wide Landslide Threatens Entire Residential Areas in Sicily
• Fears of Town Being Cut Off as Ground Shift Expands

The mayor of Niscemi, a hilltop town in Sicily, warned that the situation is “extremely dangerous” after a massive landslide triggered by a severe storm caused a large section of the hillside to crack, leaving homes perched on the edge of a cliff.

Around 1,500 people have been evacuated so far, after the soil began shifting on Sunday and the landslide grew to form a front about four kilometers long.

As the cracks continue to widen, concerns are rising that the slide could reach the town’s historic center.

In a video shared on social media, Mayor Massimiliano Conti described the landslide as “highly dangerous,” urging residents outside cordoned-off areas to stay home and take the situation seriously, noting that no human injuries have been reported so far and that damages are limited to property.

Images and videos show homes at risk of imminent collapse. Salvatore Cocina, head of Sicily’s Civil Protection Agency, said that all houses within a 50–70 meter radius are exposed to total collapse.

Schools were closed on Tuesday, and the main road connecting Niscemi to the coastal city of Gela has been shut. The town has around 25,000 residents.

Most evacuees are staying with relatives, while hundreds spent two nights in a local sports center converted into temporary shelter.

In press statements, Conti admitted the prevailing anxiety, noting that the landslide mass dropped an additional 10 meters Tuesday morning and aerial images showed parts of the town “literally collapsing.”

He added that ongoing cracks and rain are hampering relief and technical assessments.

The mayor emphasized that one of the worst-case scenarios is the town being completely cut off, adding that authorities are monitoring developments around the clock, as the situation could change at any moment.