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Niscemi Landslide Still Advancing as Mortgage Payments Are Suspended and Prosecutors Open Probe

Officials pair new relief with a negligence inquiry into years of missed prevention.

Overview

  • Authorities say the slope remains in motion with a roughly 4‑kilometre front and local depths near 50 metres, more than 1,500 residents evacuated, and the red zone extended to 150 metres with further expansion expected.
  • The government declared a state of emergency with an initial €100 million allocation, activated housing support of up to €900 per household per month for a year, and ordered a suspension of mortgage payments and other obligations for those affected.
  • Investigators in Gela opened a criminal case for disastro colposo and damage followed by landslide, are collecting technical records, and consumer group Codacons filed a complaint alleging longstanding, documented risk.
  • Scrutiny intensified over missed prevention after reports that €99.3 million in PNRR anti‑erosion funds were available for Sicily but no Niscemi projects were submitted, with the regional president citing no municipal requests in nine years.
  • Emergency operations continue with shelters, a field kitchen and school closures in areas at risk, while the military engineering corps is being deployed for near‑term works and continuous monitoring remains in place.