Italian CASAMICCIOLA TERME:An official said on Sunday that a landslide caused by torrential rain that destroyed a small town on the holiday island of Ischia killed at least seven people, including a newborn and two children.
Claudio Palomba, Naples prefect, stated at a news conference that five people remained unaccounted for.
He stated that rescue divers searched the waters off the coast while dozens of emergency workers rushed to the island.
A flood of mud, trash and stones split away from the island's most elevated mountain on Saturday and crashed down over houses and streets in and around the town of Casamicciola Terme.A resident described the landslide as "a waterfall of water and mud," and aerial footage and photographs showed buildings destroyed and several cars pushed into the sea.
Thickly populated, Ischia is a volcanic island which lies nearly 30 km (19 miles) from Naples.Because of its stunning coastline and thermal spas, it is popular with tourists.
According to experts, climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of episodes of heavy rainfall, which is exacerbated hydrogeological risks in many parts of Italy.
Ischia has a lot of illegally built houses, which puts the island's residents at permanent risk of flooding and earthquakes, which have hit the hilly island a lot in recent years.
The fatal landslide has reignited political debate regarding the refusal of some politicians to address the issue and pardons for illegal buildings granted in recent decades.
On Sunday, Campania governor Vincenzo De Luca told state broadcaster RAI, "People must understand that they can't live in some areas and buildings in risky areas must be torn down."
On Sunday, the new right-wing government in Italy, led by Giorgia Meloni, held a cabinet meeting and issued a decree to help the 230 people who had to be evacuated after the disaster.
The decree planned to provide an initial aid package totaling 2 million euros, or $2.08 million, and it also said that residents would not have to pay their taxes until the end of the year.