On Sunday, 18 May 2025 at 07:00, as part of the works for the railway doubling of the Messina-Catania high-capacity line, along the Fiumefreddo-Taormina section, a rocky ridge of limestone formation, with a volume of about 3,050 cubic metres and located about 160 metres above sea level, was blasted, looming over Via Garipoli, the main access road to Taormina.

The size of the ridge, the position and the instability of the slope required a technical intervention of controlled demolition, which was successfully completed.

The operations also involved the evacuation of some homes in the area below the ridge and the temporary closure of the A18 highway in the section between the Giardini Naxos and Taormina toll booths.

Over the next few weeks, the debris will be removed and the slope protected.