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Landslide rips through Italian holiday island amid confusion over fatalities

Authorities have confirmed that landslides caused the destruction of buildings and cut off residents on Ischia, an Italian island for holidaymakers.

Claudio Palomba (the prefect of Naples) told reporters that a woman was found dead and that about 10 people remain missing.

Another eight people, including a child, were also reported missing. Mr Palomba said that they have now been located.

ANSA, an Italian news agency, also reported that a body of a woman was found.

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Matteo Piantedosi, the Interior Minister, stated that there were no confirmed deaths. This contradicts a statement by Matteo Salvini who had said that eight people had died.

According to Mr Piantedosi, some residents were under the mud and 200 people had to be evacuated from buildings that were at risk of falling. He said that the weather conditions were still difficult.

Numerous landslides were caused by heavy rainstorms and flooding in Casamicciola Terme. It is located around 20 miles (32km) from the coast of Naples.

Images of the island show thick mud and debris with many cars submerged along the shoreline.

Videos show streets that are impassible due to debris.

Italy’s fire brigade tweeted seventy fire fighters were present on the island, searching for missing persons and rescuing residents from burning buildings.

The bad weather has made it difficult for helicopters and motorboats to reach the island, according to the brigade.

ANSA stated that ten buildings were destroyed.

Lisa Mocciaro, a resident of the area, told the news agency that heavy rain had fallen since “around midnight”.

“From 3am, we began hearing roars. She said that the first landslide was down and another one around five.

Beniamino Iacono has lost his business. He said, “I owned three shops selling Christmas items and household appliances.”

“I have lost everything in this tragedy. We need your help, I don’t know how to speak.

He said, “I have lost EUR100,000. to EUR150,000.” The shops used to be full of stuff. Now they’re full of mud.

“I will refurbish everything. It will take me a while to get it done.

Video shows a man holding onto a window that was covered in mud after the landslide.

Rescuers found him Saturday morning and told him to keep his feet on ground until they could save him.

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