Satellite-based investigation of the spring 2025 Boccassuolo Landslide, Northern Apennines (Italy)

Abstract This study investigates the evolution of the Boccassuolo landslide using remote sensing techniques applied to PlanetScope and Sentinel-2 satellite imagery. The landslide occurred in late March 2025 within the municipality of Palagano (Modena Province, northern Italy), approximately 1.5 km south of the hamlet of Boccassuolo. The event began as a rotational landslide and evolved rapidly into an earth flow; subsequently, the earth flow led to the development of an earth slide involving the entire slope up to the Dragone Stream. During the paroxysmal phase, the earth flow reached velocities exceeding > 80 m day −1 . Overall, the landslide remained active until mid-June. The event affected several infrastructures, including two municipal roads and a bridge, which were destroyed, isolating part of the Boccassuolo village. Significant damage to several buildings was also reported, leading to the partial evacuation of the local population. In addition, the interaction between the landslide and the river resulted in the formation of two small, landslide-dammed lakes, which were of particular concern due to their potential failure and consequent flood.