Devastating Landslide Engulfs Homes in Northern Italy, Leaving Two Missing
A massive mudslide swept through the town of Brazzano di Cormons, in the northeastern Italian region of Gorizia, overnight, burying a three-story house and an adjacent dwelling. The disaster has left two people missing – a 35-year-old German national and an elderly woman – and prompted widespread emergency response efforts.
The landslide originated on the hillside behind the local church, which remained unaffected by the collapse. The 35-year-old, who emigrated to the Friuli Venezia Giulia region and operates a local enogastronomia (a business combining food and wine), was residing in the home completely destroyed by the debris. An elderly resident of the neighboring house was rescued with a fractured leg and transported to a hospital, while the search continues for the second resident. The entire area is now covered in a vast expanse of rubble, hindering rescue operations.
“There are two missing people following the collapse of a home in Brazzano di Cormons: a 35-year-old man and an elderly woman,” stated a senior official to ANSA, Italy’s leading news agency. “According to information from law enforcement, the man was swept away while attempting to help the woman who was trapped by the mud, although this is still being verified. The search efforts are continuing relentlessly.” The official added that the entire zone had been evacuated and that efforts were underway to address widespread flooding. A coordination center for the rescue operation was convened at the Prefettura at 10:00 local time to assess the situation.
Rescue teams from Trieste, Pordenone, Udine, and Gorizia have been mobilized, supported by specialized teams from the Veneto region. The regional Gos (Special Operational Group) is utilizing earth-moving equipment and canine units, while the Usar (Urban Search and Rescue) team is focused on locating individuals trapped beneath the debris. The region between Palmanova and the province of Gorizia experienced exceptionally heavy rainfall, with 152 millimeters of water falling in just six hours in Cormons. The Judrio River overflowed its banks, causing widespread flooding, and the basements of the Palmanova hospital were submerged, though patient care was not impacted.
Disruptions to transportation have been reported in Visco, Trivignano, and Chiopris Viscone. Firefighters in Udine responded to approximately 200 emergency calls since midnight, with numerous additional calls received by the Gorizia command. Civil Protection authorities had issued a yellow alert in anticipation of the severe weather.
Authorities have established a “red zone” around the affected area in via San Giorgio, Brazzano di Cormons, due to the risk of further landslides and to facilitate rescue operations. Several families living below the unstable hillside have been proactively evacuated.
Video: Mudslide in Cormons, area cleared
The situation is further complicated by the overflowing Torre River, which has forced residents of Versa, a hamlet of Romans d’Isonzo, to seek refuge on rooftops. Firefighters are responding with inflatable boats and a helicopter from the Venice flight department to conduct rescues.
In response to the crisis, the mayor of Cormons, Roberto Felcaro, has ordered the immediate closure of all schools, including nurseries, citing the “exceptional weather conditions” and the “flooding in some areas of the city” as posing a safety risk. The landslide in Brazzano, and the ongoing search for missing persons, were specifically cited in the emergency ordinance.
Governor Fedriga has pledged support for the affected population, stating, “We will stand with the population concretely, and we will address the immediate needs, including financial assistance, in the upcoming budget law.” He acknowledged the severity of the situation in Cormons, where the two missing individuals – the elderly woman and the 35-year-old who attempted to rescue her – remain unaccounted for. He noted that conditions are expected to improve later in the afternoon.
Video: Torre River overflows in Gorizia, people on rooftops
.
