Italy declares state of emergency in southern regions following storm that caused major landslide in Niscemi

Minister of Civil Protection Nello Musumeci said that as a precautionary measure due to the landslide's continued movement toward the town center, authorities have expanded the safety buffer zone from 100 to 150 meters (328 to 492 feet), with the landslide line now extending over four kilometers (2.5 miles), broadcaster Rai News reported.

Musumeci also provided an update, saying the number of people displaced by the landslide has risen to 1,500.

Fabio Ciciliano, head of the Civil Protection Department, warned that the landslide is ongoing and the number of displaced residents could rise further.

"The number of evacuees in Niscemi is increasing because the landslide isn't stopped, so as the landslide continues to enter the town, it becomes increasingly important to increase the number of evacuees," he said.

The Italian government has allocated €100 million ($118.7 million) from the national emergency fund for initial interventions across Calabria, Sicily and Sardinia, where a one-year state of emergency has been declared following severe weather caused by Cyclone Harry, according to the ANSA news agency.

The funds will cover debris removal, the restoration of essential services and immediate assistance to affected residents.

Earlier Monday, the Civil Protection Department said the ordinary alert, or yellow code, was extended through Jan. 27 in Veneto, Sardinia, Campania, Calabria and Sicily following the passage of a deep low-pressure system over the central-western Mediterranean.

In Niscemi, two major landslides occurred within days primarily due to intense, relentless rainfall, with the affected area now stretching about 4 kilometers and estimated to reach up to 6 meters (20 feet) in depth.

"The situation continues to worsen," Mayor Massimiliano Conti said, describing it as "dramatic."

He said further collapses occurred overnight, including a 25-meter (82-foot) vertical cut in the terrain.

Authorities closed several roads and schools of all levels in Niscemi, a town of around 25,000 residents.

In northern Italy, a large landslide struck the Via Aurelia coastal road between Arenzano and Genoa on Monday evening. The collapse involved a hillside near the Pizzo tunnel, sending rocks and debris onto both lanes of traffic.

Firefighters carried out overnight searches for possible victims, deploying canine units to determine whether any people were trapped beneath the debris. No casualties have been reported so far.

In Sardinia, authorities extended the storm alert for another 24 hours, warning of continued heavy rainfall and hydrogeological risks as the severe weather system persists.