Landslide kills 1, leaves up to a dozen missing on Italy’s resort island of Ischia

Milan — Heavy rainfall triggered an enormous landslide early Saturday on the southern Italian resort island of Ischia that destroyed buildings and swept parked automobiles into the ocean, leaving a minimum of one individual useless and as much as 12 lacking. The physique of a girl was pulled from the mud, the Naples prefect Claudio Palomba, instructed a news convention.
 
With raining persevering with to fall, rescuers have been working gingerly with small bulldozers to choose via mud and detritus seven yards deep in some locations within the seek for doable victims. Reinforcements arrived by ferry, together with groups of sniffer canines to assist the search efforts.
 
The power of the mud sliding down the mountainside simply earlier than daybreak was sturdy sufficient to ship automobiles and buses onto seashores and into the ocean on the port of Casamicciola, on the north finish of the island, which lies off Naples.
 
The island obtained practically 5 inches of rain in six hours, the heaviest rainfall in 20 years, based on officers.

Streets have been impassable and mayors on the island urged folks to remain dwelling. At least 100 folks have been reported stranded with out electrical energy and water, and about 70 have been housed in a neighborhood gymnasium.
 
There was early confusion over the loss of life toll. Vice Premier Matteo Salvini initially stated that eight folks had been confirmed useless, adopted by the inside minister saying that no deaths had but been confirmed, whereas 10 to 12 have been lacking.
 
“The situation is very complicated and very serious because probably some of those people are under the mud,” Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi instructed RAI state TV from an emergency command heart in Rome.

Italian news company ANSA reported that a minimum of 10 buildings had collapsed. One household with a new child that was beforehand reported lacking was positioned and was receiving medical care, based on the Naples prefect.
 
Video from the island confirmed small bulldozers clearing roads, whereas residents used hoses to attempt to get mud out of their properties. One man, recognized as Benjamin Iacono, instructed Sky TG24 that mud overwhelmed three adjoining retailers that he owns, utterly wiping out his stock. He estimated harm at 100,000 euros to 150,000 euros ($104,000 to $156,000).

Firefighters and the Coast Guard have been conducting search and rescues, initially hampered by sturdy winds that prevented helicopters and boats from reaching the island.

The densely populated mountainous island is a well-liked vacationer vacation spot for each its seashores and spas. A 4.0-magnitude quake on the island in 2017 killed two folks, inflicting vital harm to the cities of Casamicciola and neighboring Lacco Ameno.