The Italian town of Nissemi on the island of Sicily, hit by a landslide, remains at serious risk of collapse, local authorities said today, quoted by DPA, BTA reported.
The head of the Italian Civil Protection Agency, Fabio Ciciliano, said that the safety zone had been extended to the center of Nissemi, as the landslide continued to advance, leaving houses literally hanging over a cliff.
All houses within 150 meters of the edge of the landslide have been evacuated, and the area has been declared a red zone. That means even former residents and firefighters are not allowed to enter the area.
More than 1,500 people have been evacuated, with most likely not able to return to their homes, authorities said. The town, which is located near the southern coast of the Mediterranean island, has been sliding since the weekend.
The landslide occurred after Cyclone Hari passed through the area, leaving behind devastation after torrential rains and strong winds. Authorities consider the situation on the ground critical.
"I will give you just one number to illustrate the scale of the problem," Ciciliano said on television. "At the moment, we are talking about a landslide with a volume of around 350 million cubic meters," he added.
More rain is expected in the coming days, which could worsen the situation even further.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Nisemi yesterday. She flew over the disaster area by helicopter before meeting Renato Schifani, the regional governor of Sicily, and officials from the fire service, civil protection and other municipal services.