Firefighters in Niscemi, Sicily, have been rescuing pets and retrieving belongings after a four-kilometre (2.5-mile) stretch of hillside collapsed following a severe storm. Among the animals saved were four cockatiels and a parakeet belonging to Pino Terzo Di Dio, who says he has lost his home. Authorities evacuated hundreds of homes and established a red zone extending about 150 metres from the cliff face; crews avoid a 50-metre buffer for safety. About 24 firefighters have completed roughly 80 missions, while experts warn the fissure could widen if it rains again.
Firefighters Rescue Parrots As Landslide Forces Evacuations In Niscemi, Sicily
A woman holds a statue of the Virgin Mary as she leaves her home after returning with firefighters to collect her belongings (MARCO BERTORELLO)(MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/AFP)
Pino Terzo Di Dio broke down in tears as firefighters carried his beloved parrots from his cordoned-off home in Niscemi, Sicily, after a powerful storm triggered a landslide that left part of the town perched on a cliff edge.
A roughly four-kilometre (2.5-mile) stretch of hillside gave way, prompting authorities to evacuate hundreds of homes and declare a high-risk 'red zone' that extends about 150 metres from the cliff face. Emergency crews moved through strong winds to remove pets and vital belongings from cordoned-off buildings.
“They are scared,” Di Dio told AFP, his voice breaking as rescuers hauled four cockatiels and a parakeet from his house in two cages. The birds — aged between seven and 13 — were buffeted by the wind but were taken to safety.
The town, built on unstable ground, was battered by the storm that struck southern Italy last week. There were no deaths or injuries in Sunday’s landslide, but experts warn the chasm could widen if more rain falls, increasing risks and complicating recovery efforts.
Lost Everything
Residents gathered at a fire service command point just outside the red zone to be escorted back in to retrieve pets or essential items, from documents to spare clothes. Some people continue to feed animals left behind because they have nowhere to take them.
Di Dio, 53, said he had been staying with friends since the evacuation. “It's been four days that I've barely washed. I smell like a goat, but that's fine,” he said, adding that his priority was finding a kind home for his birds. “I don't have a home; I've lost everything,” he added.
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Firefighter Franco Turco said teams have rescued many pets, including dogs, cats and now parrots, and are planning how to reach horses grazing in fields below the baroque town. Deep fissures created by the landslide are making access difficult and dangerous.
So far, about 24 firefighters have carried out roughly 80 missions to recover belongings inside the red zone, but crews will not enter a 50-metre buffer immediately before the cliff edge for safety reasons. Some residents have embraced and thanked the emergency workers for their help.
In one household, a woman who did not want to be named pulled a shopping trolley and several black bags of possessions onto the street and carried a small ceramic statue of the Madonna that once stood at the foot of her stairs. “May the Madonna help us,” she said.
Authorities continue to monitor the site as geologists assess stability, while local and regional officials coordinate shelter, animal care and recovery efforts for residents displaced by the disaster.
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