Heavy rainfall triggered landslides early on 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 news agency ANSA said one body had been recovered.
The force of the mud cascading down mountainsides sent cars and buses into the sea at the port of Casamicciola Terme on the northern end of the island off Naples. At least 100 people were reported stranded. Streets were unnavigable, and mayors on the island urged people to stay home. At least 100 people were reportedly stranded.
Italian Vice Premier Matteo Salvini, who is also the infrastructure minister, had said earlier that eight deaths had been confirmed, speaking to reporters at the opening of a subway extension in Milan.
There was a lack of clarity over the death toll— Vice Premier Matteo Salvini the interior minister initially said eight people had been confirmed dead. The interior minister said no deaths had been confirmed. At least 10 buildings had collapsed. Firefighters and the coastguard are working on rescue efforts to find survivors.
--With PTI inputs