One Dead and 10 Missing After Landslide on Italian Island

A landslide on the Italian island of Ischia has killed one person with a further 10 still missing

Heavy rains hit the island in the Gulf of Naples overnight, resulting in a torrent of mud and debris hitting the hamlet of Casamicciola Terme early on Saturday morning. Homes were engulfed in water while a number of vehicles were swept into the sea.

A woman’s body was discovered buried under the mud, while several others remain unaccounted for. A man in his sixties was transported to the hospital with severe injuries.

Dozens of homes remain inaccessible, hindering rescue efforts.

Police commander Tiziano Laganà told La Repubblica: “It’s a complicated situation, houses have been uprooted by the landslide.”

Enzo Ferrandino, the mayor of Ischia, has asked citizens to remain at home.

“It’s a tragedy, the number of missing people in Casamicciola is still uncertain,’ said Ferrandino. “Due to bad weather on the island of Ischia we also have situations in other areas, such as flooding, but fortunately not particularly serious.”

A popular tourist destination, Casamicciola is no stranger to natural disasters. In 2017, the hamlet was rocked by an earthquake that injured 42 people, while another landslide in 2009, claimed the life of a 14-year-old girl.