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Landslide hits Italian island of Ischia, one woman dead, 10 missing

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A woman has been found dead on the Ischia, a southern Italian island, following a landslide that engulfed buildings in heavy rain on Saturday (26 November). This was according to a local Italian government official.

In the early hours of this morning, torrential rains hit Casamicciola Terme (one of six small towns on the island), triggering flooding and bringing down structures.

"Currently, one woman has been confirmed dead. Eight people have been identified as missing, including a child. There are still around 10 missing," Claudio Palomba, the prefect of Naples said at a news conference. He also stated that approximately 100 people who lived near the landslide area were evacuated.

Earlier, Matteo Salvini, Infrastructure Minister, stated that eight people were killed during an event held in Milan.

According to Italy's fire brigade, 70 firefighters are on the island, located about 30km (19 miles) away from Naples. They are helping residents escape from buildings that have been damaged and searching for missing people.

Images showed thick mud and debris in Casamicciola Terme. Many cars were submerged at the shoreline after being pushed into the ocean by the storm.

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said that there are difficulties in rescue operations due to the challenging weather conditions. He spoke to reporters in Rome.

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Ischia, a volcanic island, draws tourists to its thermal baths. It also has a beautiful hilly coastline. It is densely populated, and statistics show that it has many illegally built houses, which puts residents at risk of flooding and earthquakes.

A landslide on the island killed a father and three of his daughters in 2006.

Prime Minister Giorgia Maloni stated that she is in close contact with Nello Musumeci (Civil Protection Minister), the Civil Protection Department, and the Campania Region.

She said that the government expressed its closeness with the mayors and citizens of the Ischia municipalities and thanked the rescuers who helped in the search for missing.

It is vulnerable to deadly landslides in the south of Italy where illegally built houses are allowed to continue, ignoring safety regulations. At least 150 people died in 1998 when mud submerged Sarno, a village not far from Naples.

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