The 1998 Sarno and Quindici landslides (Italian: Alluvione di Sarno e Quindici del 1998), also known as the 1998 Sarno and Quindici floods, were a series of large and deadly landslides caused by torrential rain and flooding that struck the region of Campania in southern Italy between the 5th and 6th of May 1998. Over 140 landslides occurred, with the communities of Sarno, Siano, and Bracigliano in the Province of Salerno, and Quindici in the Province of Avellino being particularly devastated. The disaster had a death toll of 161, injured 360 more and displacing up to 3,000 people. The disaster has heavily featured in scientific articles and research regarding landslides and is often used as a case study for this type of natural disaster.
Why this event still matters
Historical incidents shape the rules that protect people today — building codes, evacuation policy, warning systems and inspection regimes almost always trace back to a specific disaster. Studying 1998 Sarno and Quindici landslides alongside current events is how preparedness improves.
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