Railway lines and the motorway had to be closed. Image: X
April 8, 2026, 1:47 p.mApril 8, 2026, 1:47 p.m
A landslide on southern Italy’s Adriatic coast is causing concern for local authorities. As a precautionary measure, around 50 people have already been evacuated from the municipality of Petacciato in the small Molise region, said the head of Italian civil protection, Fabio Ciciliano.
The landslide is currently not standing still, but moving, he explained. Ciciliano described the situation as complex. It will take a few weeks, if not months.
The slope in the area has long been considered unstable. Earth movements were repeatedly recorded there. Now the landslide has “reactivated” after storms, albeit slowly, said Ciciliano. The landslide therefore extends over around four kilometers.
50 people have already been evacuated.Image: X
Transport connections interrupted
Important transport connections in the area are also affected. As the Rai television station reported, a section of the A14 motorway is closed on both sides. The Autostrada A14 connects the north of Italy with the extreme southeast of the country. Rail traffic there is also at a standstill.
According to her office, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is in constant contact with local authorities. In a statement from their official headquarters it was said that Italy was “effectively divided into two parts” due to the traffic disruptions. All measures to restore connections could only be evaluated after technical tests, it said. (nil/sda/dpa)