A landslide hits the Italian island of Ischia. 1 dead, several missing

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MILAN — A woman has died and about 10 people are missing after buildings were caught in a landslide during Saturday’s heavy rains on the southern Italian holiday island of Ischia, an Italian regional government official said. Told.

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Torrential rains hit the port of Casamicciola Terme, one of the island’s six small towns, in the early morning, causing flooding and collapsing buildings.

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“The current confirmed death is one woman. Naples Governor Claudio Palomba said at a press conference that eight people, including children, were found missing and about 10 people are still missing.

Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini said eight people had died during the events in Milan.

Italy’s fire service said on Twitter that 70 firefighters were working to rescue residents from damaged buildings and search for missing people on an island about 30 kilometers from Naples. .

The image shows the thick mud, debris and stones of Casamicciola Terme. A few cars sank on the coastline and were apparently pushed out to sea by the storm.

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“Rescue operations will face some difficulties as the weather conditions are still severe,” Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi told reporters in Rome.

Ischia is a volcanic island that draws tourists to its hot springs and picturesque, hilly coastline. It is densely populated, statistics show a large number of illegally built houses, and residents are at risk of floods and earthquakes.

In 2006, a landslide killed a father and three daughters on the island.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she was in close contact with Civil Protection Minister Nero Musmeci, the Civil Protection Agency and the local Campania province.

“The government expresses its closeness to the citizens of Ischia and the mayor of the municipality and thanks the rescue team for their involvement in the search for the missing,” she said.

Southern Italy, where houses are often built illegally and circumvent safety regulations, is prone to deadly landslides. 150 people died.