NISCEMI – DEALING WITH NATURAL DISASTER
The recent dramatic landslide at Niscemi in western Sicily has focussed media and public attention on the fragility of many areas of Italy.
The town of Niscemi is situated in the Belice Valley, which has been regularly plagued by natural disasters. Known for its undulating hilly scenery and its impressive archaeological sites it has also had a long history of catastrophic natural events.
In modern times the most memorable has been the Belice earthquake of January 1968 that wiped out a number of villages including Gibellina, which has been resuscitated as an open air art gallery with artist Burri's celebrated “Crete” overlaying the plan of the original town and making it a celebrated monument to rebirth and a visitor attraction. However, the earthquake has also left many ghost towns, such as Poggioreale. Its deserted homes and shops, abandoned in their original crumbled state by owners who, not knowing how to cope with the subsequent financial catastrophe, emigrated mainly to the USA. Other villages, left to fall into ruin, are scattered round the valley.
It is to be hoped that the historical town of Niscemi, perched on the brink of a 25-15m high escarpment that is crumbling after the battering of the recent cyclone Harry and days of devastating rainfalls, will not share this fate. With an estimated 137 buildings teetering on the brink of a gigantic 4 km-long landslide and judged to be beyond repair, many homes will have to be sacrificed. Subsequent recovery will mean a retreat inland that may alter the town's landmark appearance.
