Fatalities and Missing Persons in Devastating Landslide in Italy

At least seven people, including a baby and two children, have died on the island of Ischia, south of Italy, after a landslide caused by heavy rains destroyed a small town. Naples Governor Claudio Palomba stated in a press conference that five people are still missing, adding that dozens of rescue personnel rushed to the island and divers are conducting searches in the waters off the coast. A wave of mud, debris, and stones separated from the top of the island's highest mountain on Saturday and fell onto homes and roads in the town of Casamicciola Terme and its surroundings. Aerial photos and videos showed buildings destroyed by the landslide and cars being washed out to sea due to what a resident described as a "water and mud waterfall." Ischia is a densely populated volcanic island located about 30 kilometers from Naples, attracting visitors with its hot springs and scenic coastlines. The new Italian government, led by Giorgia Meloni, held a cabinet meeting on Sunday and issued a decree aimed at providing urgent assistance to those affected by the disaster, including approximately 230 individuals who have been evacuated.