A Nightmare in Italy: A Landslide Killed a Women, 10 More People Missing

A woman has died and 10 people are missing after a severe storm triggered a landslide on the Italian island of Ischia.

The island, in the Gulf of Naples, was engulfed by heavy rain overnight, with the landslide hitting the hamlet of Casamicciola Terme early on Saturday morning, flooding homes and sweeping away several cars.

The deputy prime minister, Matteo Salvini, had earlier said that eight people had died. But by Saturday evening there was one confirmed death with 10 people still missing.

The first victim was confirmed to be a woman whose body was found by rescuers, according to a media briefing by the prefect of Naples, Claudio Palomba.

He said some of those reported missing earlier were later found safe, including one family with a newborn baby, but about 10 other people were still unaccounted for by mid-afternoon.

The rescue effort was hampered by continued rain and high winds, which also delayed ferries bringing reinforcements from the mainland.

The interior minister, Matteo Piantedosi, had earlier warned there were people trapped in the mud, saying it was a “very serious” situation.

A 60-year-old man was taken to hospital with serious injuries.