A massive landslide tore through Niscemi, a small town in southwestern Sicily, after heavy rains from Cyclone Harry destabilized the hill’s sand and clay layers, forcing the evacuation of 1,500 residents. Officials warned that dozens of homes within a 50 to 70 meter radius are at risk of collapse, with some residents unlikely to ever return.

The Italian government declared a state of emergency in Sicily, Sardinia, and Calabria following the cyclone’s damage earlier in January. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Niscemi on Wednesday, surveying the destruction by helicopter. Salvatore Cocina, director general of Sicily’s civil protection authority, said the entire hill is sliding onto the plain of Gela, making parts of the town uninhabitable. Civil protection chief Fabio Ciciliano added that houses on the edge of the landslide can no longer be lived in and that authorities must work with the mayor to find permanent relocation solutions for affected families.

Geologists noted that Niscemi’s location on unstable soil makes it prone to such disasters. A similar landslide in 1997 forced the evacuation of 400 people. While no fatalities have been reported, the scale of the slide and continuing instability threaten homes and infrastructure, prompting officials to focus on resident safety and long-term relocation plans.