Landslides on Italian island, up to 12 missing, buildings collapse, mud, debris, cars into the sea

 

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 UPDATE 2: There is a first confirmed victim in Casamicciola, on the island of Ischia, after the landslide that swept the area this morning at dawn. It is a woman whose body was identified and recovered in Piazza Maio, right where she had been overwhelmed by the mud; it is one of the first areas hit by the rescuers. His identity is not yet known. This was reported by law enforcement sources.
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UPDATE 1: One dead, 10 missing' after torrential rain causes landslide on Italian island of Ischia
"Currently the confirmed death toll is one, a woman. Eight missing persons have been found, including a child, and there still are around 10 missing," the prefect of Naples Claudio Palomba told a news conference.
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Heavy rainfall triggered landslides early Saturday on the southern Italian island of Ischia that left as many as 12 people missing as it cut a muddy swath through a port town, collapsing buildings and sweeping cars into the sea.

The torrent of mud and debris dislodged trees, engulfed buildings and dragged cars into the sea as it reached the coast early on Saturday.

The body of a woman was reported to have been found under the mud, and several other people are still missing.

Dozens of homes are cut off and some people are reportedly stuck in a hotel.

Infrastructure minister and deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini was reported as saying that eight people had been confirmed dead, but his cabinet colleague later denied this.