Landslides force evacuation of 1,000 in southern Italy amid severe weather

By Melike Pala

BRUSSELS (AA) - Italian authorities evacuated around 1,000 people from the Sicilian town of Niscemi due to a series of landslides triggered by severe weather, as yellow-level flood and hydrogeological alerts remained in effect across several regions on Monday.

The Civil Protection Department said the ordinary alert, or yellow code, was extended through Jan. 27 in Veneto, Sardinia, Campania, Calabria, and Sicily, following the passage of a deep low-pressure system over the central-western Mediterranean, the broadcaster Rai News reported.

In Niscemi, two major landslides occurred within days, with the affected area now stretching about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) and the landslide estimated to reach up to 6 meters (20 feet) in depth.

“The situation continues to worsen,” Mayor Massimiliano Conti said, describing it as “dramatic.”

He said further collapses occurred overnight, including a 25-meter (82-foot) vertical cut in the terrain.

Authorities closed several roads and schools of all levels in Niscemi, a town of about 25,000 residents.

In northern Italy, a large landslide struck the Via Aurelia coastal road between Arenzano and Genoa on Monday evening. The collapse involved a hillside about 150 meters (492 feet) high near the Pizzo tunnel, sending rocks and debris onto both lanes of traffic.

Firefighters carried out overnight searches for possible victims, deploying canine units to determine whether any vehicles or people were trapped beneath the debris. No casualties have been reported so far.

In Sardinia, authorities extended the storm alert for another 24 hours, warning of continued heavy rainfall and hydrogeological risks as the severe weather system persists.