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IN PICTURES: The Italian village being torn in two by a landslide no-one can stop

The Local Italy
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IN PICTURES: The Italian village being torn in two by a landslide no-one can stop
The village of Ponzano. All photos courtesy of the Comune di Civitella del Tronto

In Ponzano, a small hamlet in central Italy, a landslide is slowly tearing the ground in two, moving at a rate of about one metre a day but unstoppable, according to the experts.

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READ MORE: An 'unstoppable' landslide is tearing apart a village in central Italy

Photos from the area show the extent of the damage to the landscape of the hillside village, and to homes in the area.

The landslide was caused due to a combination of factors: the series of earthquakes which have been rocking the region for months, and extreme weather in January which saw heavy snowfall.

Over 100 people have been evacuated from their homes in the town.

Several buildings have collapsed or been badly damaged, and the village's mayor told The Local that it was unlikely that buildings in the affected area would ever be inhabitable again.

Although the landslide is moving slowly, experts from the National Research Council have said there is nothing they can do to stop it.

The effects of the landslide are similar to those of an earthquake.

The Abruzzo region has been badly hit by a series of natural disasters, beginning last August with a deadly earthquake in Amatrice.

Photos show how the landslide has destroyed walls and roofs of houses.

Firefighters, geology experts and teams of psychologists are stationed in the town to assist locals.

In the photo above, mayor Cristina di Pietro speaks with a worker from Italy's Civil Protection Agency. The video below shows a home which collapsed as the landslide progressed.

All photos: Comune di Civitella del Tronto

 

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