Eight dead after severe storm on Ischia

Eight people died in the landslide triggered by heavy rain on the Italian holiday island of Ischia. This was announced by the responsible prefecture in Naples, southern Italy. A 22-day-old baby was among the dead. The rescue workers had previously recovered the bodies of two women and a girl from the mud masses since Saturday. The rescue workers had found the eighth fatality on Saturday night. It was a man, according to a message from the fire department on Twitter. The search team found him in Casamicciola, one of the areas in the north of the island badly hit by heavy rain and storms. This reduced the number of missing people to four.

The Italian government declared a state of emergency for Ischia. After a special session, a first tranche of aid amounting to two million euros was released, said Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci.

Casamicciola and Lacco Ameno particularly affected

Storm and heavy rain caused some major damage, especially in the north of the popular holiday island in the towns of Casamicciola and Lacco Ameno. Cars were swept away by the floods, landslides went down slopes and damaged homes. Hundreds of rescue workers, some of whom were sent to Ischia from the mainland, were deployed at the scene of the accident, rescued people from their homes and searched for victims and survivors.

The authorities instructed people in several municipalities on the island to stay at home. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni thanked the rescue workers for their work, as announced by their official seat in Rome. She is in contact with the local authorities. Ischia’s Mayor Enzo Ferrandino had already closed schools, parks and cemeteries on Friday because of the announced storm.

as/sti/qu (afp, dpa, kna)