Dramatic videos from Sicily show homes collapsing as a massive landslide rips through a hill town, forcing over 1,000 residents to flee amid fears of further ground movement
Dramatic videos from southern Sicily have captured the aftermath of a massive landslide that hit the hill town of Niscemi, forcing more than 1,000 residents to evacuate as the ground shifted and buildings became unsafe.
The slide, stretching about four kilometres long, was triggered by days of intense rainfall linked to Storm Harry, and has left parts of the town perched precariously on the brink of collapse.
Videos show homes and land disappearing
Aerial video shared by local news agencies shows large stretches of land cracking and slipping away, with some homes already damaged or collapsing as the ground gives way. In one clip, a building previously damaged was seen further disintegrating as the cliff beneath it shifted. Nearby, a car sits with its front end hanging over a newly formed chasm.
A massive landslide is destroying an entire town in Sicily
Homes, roads, and entire neighborhoods in the town of Niscemi are sliding down a hillside. The mayor has called the situation “dramatic.”
The landslide, triggered by heavy rainfall, continues to expand. Hundreds of- pic.twitter.com/hhSKCYuzRN
— faiyaz brohi (@FaiyazB) January 27, 2026
“This situation continues to worsen because further collapses have been recorded,” Mayor Massimiliano Conti told local media, warning that the hillsides remain unstable. Authorities have declared the area around the landslide a red zone and banned residents from returning to endangered neighbourhoods.
Officials say everyone living within approximately a four-kilometre radius of the affected area has been ordered to evacuate as a precaution. Many displaced families have been moved to temporary shelters, including sports halls and community centres. Schools in the town were also closed while emergency plans are implemented.
Italy’s Civil Protection Department, along with local police and fire services, are coordinating the response, working to monitor the shifting ground and ensure residents’ safety as the rain continues to batter the region.
The landslide adds to a tally of extreme weather damage across Sicily and southern Italy. Storm Harry has battered coastal roads and homes, leading to flooding and other landslides in recent days. Soaked earth and continued rainfall have only worsened conditions, raising fears of further collapses.
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