A storm in southern Italy triggered a landslide in the Sicilian town of Niscemi, where a section of cliff gave way and left multiple homes built along the edge sitting at the brink.

Authorities said some buildings shifted toward the drop, and at least one house collapsed completely after the supporting cliff section failed, sending debris down the slope.

Niscemi, in southern Sicily, is described as a town of roughly 25,000 residents located on a plateau.

Local authorities said the plateau has been gradually subsiding toward the plain below, and that the latest landslide involved significant portions of the cliff that supports residential structures.

Images and on-the-ground descriptions from the site indicate that parts of building facades and even the front of a vehicle extended beyond the edge after the ground movement.

Italy’s civil protection leadership said some homes at the landslide’s edge are not fit for habitation.

Fabio Ciciliano, identified as the head of Italy’s civil protection, told reporters in Niscemi that evacuated residents would be transferred to more permanent accommodation, and added that a more precise assessment would be possible once absorbed water drains and the landslide stops or slows, noting that the landslide remained active.

Evacuations were ordered for more than 1,500 residents in Niscemi due to the cliff collapses and the proximity of homes to unstable ground.

The incident unfolded amid a broader storm impact across southern Italy.

On Monday, the Italian government led by Giorgia Meloni declared a state of emergency in Sicily, Sardinia, and Calabria, describing those regions as having been hit hard by the storm that struck southern Italy last week.

As part of the initial response, the government allocated 100 million euros for affected areas, while local authorities estimated that storm-related damage exceeded 1 billion euros, citing coastal flooding and destruction to homes and businesses.

Residents in Niscemi expressed anxiety and anger over sudden evacuations, and some said they believed earlier landslide damage in the area had not been adequately addressed.

One resident, Francesco Zerba, said he was told to leave despite not seeing a collapse at his own home and added that the first landslide in his area occurred around 30 years ago.

Confirmed vs unclear: Confirmed details in the item include that a storm triggered a landslide in Niscemi, Sicily; a section of cliff collapsed; homes shifted to the edge; one house collapsed; more than 1,500 residents were evacuated; and Italy declared a state of emergency on Monday in Sicily, Sardinia, and Calabria and allocated 100 million euros for the initial response.

Unclear elements in the item include when the landslide will stop or slow and the final verified scope of structural damage once authorities complete their post-event assessments.