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Several missing after landslides on Italian island of Ischia

Rome, Nov 27 (EFE).- Rescue workers continued searching for a dozen missing people on the Italian island of Ischia on Sunday after a landslide triggered by violent storms killed a 31-year-old woman.

Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni convened a cabinet meeting at 11.00 am (10.00 GMT) to declare an emergency on the island and announce funding for measures and aid.

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 massive 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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