Child found dead as search for missing after Ischia landslide continues
Rome, Nov 27 (EFE).- The body of a young girl was found on Sunday in a house struck by a massive landslide on the Italian island of Ischia, as rescue workers continued searching for a dozen missing people.
The discovery of the girl’s body comes a day after authorities confirmed a 31-year-old woman had also died in the landslide triggered by violent storms.
The body of the girl aged between five and six and who has yet to be identified, was found in a mud-flooded room, sources from the Naples prefecture told Efe.
A cabinet meeting convened earlier by Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni declared an emergency on the island and pledged 2 million euros to help Ischia deal with the consequences of the landslide.
The island, located in the Gulf of Naples in Italy’s south, was drenched by heavy rain on Saturday, which sparked flooding and then a landslide that swept through houses in the town of Casamicciola.
Reinforcements were sent by Italian authorities to the island to assist the population, remove mud, and search for the missing.
So far, some 200 residents have been evacuated from their homes.
Among the missing people are a Bulgarian woman and a family with three children, according to media reports.
The local mayor, Enzo Ferrandino, said earlier that the island had witnessed a “tragedy” and asked the public to remain in their homes.
The volcanic island of Ischia is a popular tourist destination in the summer. Its steep hillsides are prone to landslides. EFE
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