Niscemi, the cross symbol of hope for the country has collapsed

In the meantime, the first inspection in Niscemi by the technical consultants appointed by the Gela Public Prosecutor's Office, the three magistrates dealing with the investigation and the agents of the Caltanissetta Police Headquarters mobile squad has been set for the whole day of Thursday 12 February. They will start, in the morning, from the landslide front, descending towards the valley. Then they will go up towards the ravine, the landslide front until they reach the town of Niscemi. Coordinating, directly on site, the first inspection will be prosecutor Salvatore Vella. The technical consultants who will take part in the surveys are three professors from the University of Palermo: Chiara Cappadonia, lecturer in Applied Geology and Technical Geology, Maurizio Gasparo Morticelli, lecturer in Structural Geology, and Edoardo Rotigliano, lecturer in Geomorphology. Photographs and surveys will be carried out not only of the landslide front, but also of the area downstream and the built-up area. The police flight department will carry out aerial shots, dwelling on the points of geological interest indicated by the consultants appointed in recent days by prosecutor Salvatore Vella. The acquisition of documentation is also continuing in order to understand whether countermeasures could have been taken to stop the landslide, after the first episode in 1997, or whether something was done that aggravated the hydrogeological instability.

Meanwhile, Arera has approved an emergency measure that suspends the payment of electricity, gas, water and waste bills and notices for six months in favour of the populations in the regions of Calabria, Sardinia and Sicily, including the municipality of Niscemi, affected by the effects of Cyclone Harry from 18 January 2026. The resolution, which comes following the declaration of the state of emergency resolved by the Council of Ministers on 26 January, concerns all the utilities and supplies of households and productive activities in the municipalities damaged by the exceptional weather events, identified by Order 1180 of the Head of the Civil Protection Department of 30 January 2026. The measures apply to all invoices and payment notices issued or to be issued with due dates starting from 18 January 2026, including any charges for connection, activation, deactivation, changeover or takeover services or any other fees that may be envisaged by waste managers.

The Usar (Urban search and rescue) specialists and the Sapr (remotely piloted aircraft systems) nucleus have set up an advanced monitoring network: the cross-referencing of the data collected today allowed access, for a few hours, to the area between 30 and 50 metres from the landslide front, which until now had been closed to all activity due to the high risk of collapse. In the meantime, the efforts of the fire brigade, which has been working on the landslide front since 25 January, continue. They have carried out 30 property recovery operations, including 10 in the most critical area, allowing residents to return to their belongings. Shortly before the collapse of the cross, many families had entered neighbouring houses to recover some basic necessities.

 In the meantime, the Gela Public Prosecutor's Office, headed by Salvatore Vella, has opened the first criminal proceedings for violating the red zone adjacent to the Niscemi landslide. The police have been trying for days to keep citizens and onlookers away from the area at risk. Five people are currently under investigation. Compliance with the civil protection union ordinance is to protect the safety of citizens, recalls the public prosecutor's office.

The president of the Sicilian Region and delegated commissioner for the national emergency, Renato Schifani, has appointed the general manager of the regional technical department, Duilio Alongi, as the person responsible for coordinating all the implementing bodies and all the structures, regional and otherwise, that are working to deal with the consequences of Cyclone Harry and the Niscemi landslide. The tasks that the new coordinator will have to carry out, according to the order signed by Schifani, include those of preparing within thirty days a Plan of Urgent Interventions, to be submitted to the approval of the head of the national civil protection department, and a Plan of Emergency Works and the acquisition of supplies and services, the coverage of which can be ensured with regional funds, to eliminate any situation of actual or potential danger. Alongi will be able to avail himself: of all the offices and will collaborate with Anas, as the implementing party, for the implementation of interventions to restore the road system. In order to deal with the emergency situation in Niscemi, Alongi will also define volunteer and first aid initiatives, as well as all other activities necessary to deal with the landslide and its consequences. The coordinator will submit a quarterly report on the activities carried out to the President of the Region.

A local office of the delegated commissioner for the emergency has been operational in Niscemi since 10 February and will be housed in premises made available by the municipality. It is a front office to which regional personnel have been assigned to work alongside the Civil Protection. It will be responsible for assisting citizens, restoring the functionality of public services and infrastructures of strategic networks, and reporting situations of danger to public safety. In addition, it will offer support to citizens in filling out applications to the competent offices for contributions. The monitoring of Iacp-owned housing to be allocated to evacuees and to be assigned as soon as possible is also underway.

A concrete gesture of solidarity by Despar Sicilia, in collaboration with Despar Italia, to support the community of Niscemi affected by the landslide that caused numerous inconveniences and the displacement of several families. The first 10 pallets of essential foodstuffs have been donated, adhering to the request for help made by the Alfa Group of Civil Defence Sicily Region, Chiaramonte Gulfi section, engaged in the front line in managing the emergency. The pallets contain basic necessities, mostly foodstuffs, including milk, pasta and protein foods, essential to guarantee hot meals and daily assistance to affected families.