Bad weather killer in Ischia . After a night of heavy rain, a landslide shook Casamicciola Terme this morning around 5.

A piece of the mountain has come down: boulders, debris and mud have detached from the upper part of via Celario and have reached the seafront in piazza Anna De Felice. The landslide overwhelmed everything, people and some parked cars dragging them to the sea.

At least one confirmed victim - a woman originally from Eastern Europe, married to a man from Ischia - 11 missing and 13 injured, one of which in "slightly more serious" conditions , the prefect of Naples Claudio Palomba reported in the evening. The family was found with a newborn of which there was initially no news.

Instead, firefighters rescued a man who had been carried away by a river of mud.

Carabinieri and civil protection are in action to guarantee the safety of residents and tourists, many of whom are stuck in hotels, affected by blackouts. The rescue operations, made very difficult by the weather conditions, will continue throughout the night.

Defense Minister Guido Crosetto has also ordered the intervention of aircraft and men of the Armed Forces to support the relief efforts.

«There are difficulties in the rescue operations - explained Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi - because the climatic conditions are very demanding. We are sending vehicles both by sea and for air overflights. I am in close contact with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and my fellow ministers. It is an evolving situation, very serious, to follow ».

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her personal solidarity and that of the entire government with the victims, displaced persons and all those who have been affected in some way by the landslide. He followed the evolution of the rescue efforts via video link from the Civil Protection.

The government, the premier said, "is ready to do its part" . A Council of Ministers has been convened for Sunday at 11 to declare a state of emergency.

(Unioneonline)

- UPDATING -

© Riproduzione riservata