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Bad weather in Italy, at least 8 dead after landslides on the island of Ischia. Children are also among the missing

Bad weather in Italy, at least 8 dead after landslides on the island of Ischia.

At least eight people have died and several others are missing, including a newborn baby, after a strong storm triggered a landslide on the Italian island of Ischia.

The island, in the Gulf of Naples, was lashed by heavy rain overnight, triggering landslides that hit the village of Casamicciola Terme early Saturday morning, flooding homes and sweeping away several cars.

Before the deaths were confirmed by Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, 13 people were reported missing.

Among the missing is a family with two children and a couple with a newborn child, according to Italian media. A 60-year-old man was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Electricity has been cut off in the affected area, while around 30 families have remained trapped in their homes in the village of Lacco Ameno, where it is reported that several buildings have collapsed.

"It's a complicated situation, houses have been torn apart by the landslide," police chief Tiziano Laganà told La Repubblica.

"It is a tragedy, the number of missing persons in Casamicciola is still uncertain ," said the Mayor of Ischia, Enzo Ferrandino.  

Ischia has a population of around 20,000 and is popular with Italian and foreign tourists.  

 

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