Rescuers are searching for about a dozen people who went missing after a severe storm led to a calamitous landslide on the Italian island of Ischia. 

Ischia, located in the Gulf of Naples, was caught up in heavy rain overnight, followed by a landslide that hit the hamlet of Casamicciola Terme on Saturday morning, engulfing several buildings and sweeping cars into the sea, as it reached its coast. 

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Matteo Salvini, the deputy Prime Minister, said that at least 8 people lost their life due to this calamity. However, Naples prefect, Claudio Palomba, clarified “at the moment, from all the institutions involved, we have no reports of confirmed deaths, no bodies have been recovered.”

He further said that the situation was evolving but “very serious”, claiming that around twelve people are missing and trapped under the debris. 

Giorgia Meloni, the Prime Minister of Italy conveyed on Twitter that she is in contact with local authorities, expressing solidarity with residents and thanking the rescue services.

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According to Italian news reports, among the missing are a family with two children and a couple with a newborn. A 60-year-old man was hospitalized earlier, due to severe injuries. 

Electricity has been cut off in the affected areas with several families stuck in their homes in the town of Lacco Ameno, where several buildings have collapsed. 

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

The mayor of Ischia, Enzo Ferrandino has urged the residents to not leave their 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.”

Ischia is known for its natural hotsprings, and is a popular tourist destination. Ferries have been temporarily suspended to and from Ischia. 

Parts of Italy were struck with heavy rains for the past week. In September, thirteen people died due to severe flooding in central Marche region.