Road into the abyss: In Niscemi on Sicily, a landslide has completely destroyed parts of a neighborhood.Image: www.imago-images.de
In the Sicilian town of Niscemi, a three-story residential building collapsed on Saturday afternoon as a result of the ongoing landslide. Neighboring houses are also considered at acute risk of collapse.
The building in the Sante Croci district had been standing for days on the edge of an unstable slope made of sand and clay. As a result of heavy rain last weekend, a four-kilometer-long slope in Niscemi in southern Sicily began to slide.
According to the fire department, the collapse was due to the persistent rains of the past few days. These would have further eroded the already severely damaged subsoil. “The building was already severely compromised and the additional weight could no longer be supported,” said fire official Francesco Turco.
Many of Niscemi’s residents will never be able to return to their homes.Image: www.imago-images.de
The recent rainfall is exacerbating the already critical situation. Experts expect the landslide to continue extending towards the city center. It is likely that the exclusion zone, which currently covers around 150 meters, will be enlarged.
The Italian civil protection authority is watching the development with concern. Civil defense ordered a comprehensive risk analysis as well as geological and geotechnical investigations. The aim is to clarify the causes of the landslide and set up a permanent monitoring system. In addition, a commission of experts was set up at national level to assess the extent, speed and remaining risks of ground movement.
At the same time, the public prosecutor’s office is investigating the negligent cause of a natural disaster. Among other things, it is being investigated whether failure to take safety measures or illegal interventions such as the construction of wells or wastewater discharges have aggravated the situation.
More than 1,500 people are homeless in Niscemi.Image: www.imago-images.de
Despite the tense situation, schools are scheduled to reopen on Monday. Students in two unusable school buildings are being temporarily relocated to other facilities. A total of 323 children are affected. Transport connections will also be gradually restored.
According to authorities, more than 1,500 people have already had to leave their homes. Many of them will probably no longer be able to return to their homes. The situation on site is classified as critical by the authorities. According to experts, the earth in the area had become waterlogged like a sponge due to heavy rains. (sda/apa)
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