Disasters & Accidents

Eighth body found in Ischia landslide as anger over illegal buildings mounts

Rome, Nov 28 (EFE).- Rescue teams found the body of a man on Monday as they continued to search for another four people who remained missing following a deadly landslide that struck the Italian island Ischia.

The death toll has climbed to eight after the latest victim was located on Monday morning in the town of Casamicciola, the most affected by the powerful landslide that occurred on Saturday night.

The victims include two children and a newborn. Four people were injured as a result and 230 citizens were displaced.

The rescue operation has largely focused on the basement of one of the houses that were destroyed when a strong storm triggered a mudslide from Monte Epomeo.

The access to the house in question is covered in mud, which has become one of the most challenging obstacles for rescuers, emergency services reported.

Teams continued to search for victims throughout the night, especially in the area where two of the children were found, because it is highly probable that “the other missing persons are also at that location, but it is complicated because that area can only be reached on foot,” the fire brigade’s communication’s chief, Luca Cari, said.

The deadly accident has sparked outrage in the community after illegal constructions were blamed for the tragic deaths.

A third of Ischia’s 60,000 houses have requested an amnesty for being illegally built and for having been built where they should not have, according to Italy’s environmentalist lobby Legambiente.

Civil protection chief, Fabrizio Curcio, warned that “94% of (Italian) municipalities are at risk of flooding, landslides, coastal erosion.”

The expert shared the alarming data in an interview with La Stampa newspaper, following Saturday’s deadly landslide. EFE

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