OVER 1,000 people have been forced to evacuate an idyllic Sicilian town after a terrifying 4km-long landslide.
A shocking aerial view shows the southern hill town Niscemi perched precariously on a cliff edge with several buildings dangerously close to falling off.
Buildings look close to collapsing into the ravine below
Over 1,000 residents have been forced to evacuateCredit: EPA
The devastating landslide left deep tears in the surrounding hills
Deep chasms in the surrounding fields and large chunks of earth shorn off the hill give an idea of the landslide’s scale.
No deaths or injuries have been reported since the incident occurred on Sunday.
Regional president Renato Schifani estimates a damage bill totalling a whopping 740million euros (£640m).
Heavy rainfall has caused land to fall away over the past few days, according to town mayor Massimiliano Conti.
Conti called the situation “dire”, adding: “The situation continues to worsen because further collapses have been recorded.”
Schools were forced to close their doors on Monday, and Conti said work is underway to restore order in the town.
Local authorities are said to be working with police, fire and civil protection units to set out an action plan.
Officials said that all residents within a four-kilometre radius of the landslide had been evacuated.
Displaced locals have reportedly been ushered to a makeshift shelter set up in the Pio La Torre sports hall in Niscemi.
Hundreds of camp beds have been ferried from Palermo to assist with the efforts.
And 70 volunteers have been helping authorities deal with the fallout at the site of the landslide, per L’Unione Sarda.
Sicilian coastlines were battered by Storm Harry last week, with fierce showers battering seaside roads and residences.
Ground conditions were reportedly worsened by intense rainfall in the region, which precipitated the landslide.
Only days ago, Storm Harry wreaked more devastation on Sicily when .
Around 20 coffins slid into the ravine below the cliffside graveyard in Crotone.
An aerial view shows the extent of the damageCredit: EPA
Several buildings were left crippled at the foot of the landslide
Mayor Levino Rajani said the damage to San Mauro Marchesato cemetery was a “profound wound” to the community.
“It’s a wound that affects the memory, respect and dignity of our loved ones, causing endless pain,” he said.
He added that skilled climbers would recover the coffins as soon as it was safe to do so.
Sicilians had to run for their lives from a towering storm-surge wave which smashed straight into the harbour while two people died in Greece and Malta experienced ice torrents, as wild weather ravaged Europe.
as Storm Harry prompted a state of emergency.
In what looked like a tidal wave, a street in Letojanni – north of Catania – was last Tuesday, with the currents taking everything in its wake.
Loose rubbish bags were the first items to be washed away in the storm, followed by chairs and heavily weighted plant pots.
In another video from Messina, rolling straight in from the sea.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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