As rescuers continued to search for seven people still missing after a catastrophic landslide in Ischia, anger rose on the southern Italian island on Sunday over years of rampant illegal construction that contributed to the disaster.
Five people are confirmed dead in Saturday’s landslide, which was triggered by a violent storm that sent mud and debris from Monte Epomeo, a 789-meter (2,590-foot) peak, crashing into the village of Casamicciola Terme . A victim has been named, 32-year-old Eleonora Sirabella. The others, including a child, have not yet been officially identified.
Men carry possessions down a street covered in mud after landslides in Ischia. Photograph: Roberto Salomone/The Guardian
The village itself was hit by a landslide in 2009, when a 14-year-old girl died, and was damaged again by an earthquake in 2017.
Dozens of houses were destroyed, trees uprooted and cars swept into the sea in the latest tragedy.
Map of landslides in IschiaMap of landslides in Ischia
Giorgia Meloni’s government, which came to power in October, announced a state of emergency on Sunday, adding that it has set aside €2m (£1.7m), the first tranche of ‘a fund that will be used to repair the damage.
But for many, the movement is too little, too late.
“I’m furious,” Franco said, as he mopped up mud from the entrance to what used to be a hotel owned by his family. “This is the second time I’ve had to do this: after the 2009 landslide they made a lot of promises to make the area safer. They knew the risks but did nothing.”
The storm, which followed days of heavy rain across much of Italy, was reported to be the worst in 20 years to hit Ischia, an island in the Gulf of Naples, with 126mm of rain in six hours.
Casamicciola Terme is home to just over 2,000 people and is located in an area of the island, known for its natural hot springs and popular with Italian and foreign tourists, that is extremely vulnerable to landslides and seismic activity. Seventy-two landslides were recorded to have occurred in the village between 2018 and 2021.
The number of illegally constructed homes and other buildings, estimated at 28,000 across the island, has been blamed for exacerbating the damage.
Rescuers search for survivors on the beach after the landslide in Ischia. Photograph: Roberto Salomone/The Guardian
“Since the twenties they have been giving people permits to build effectively illegally,” said Vincenzo Capuano, as he assessed the destroyed premises of what was his cultural association. “So we’re not just talking about a few years. These were permits given for houses, hotels, whatever”.
Vicente Capuano Photograph: Roberto Salomone/The Guardian
Capuano, whose car was swept away by the disaster, is friends with a man in his 60s who was hospitalized Saturday after being pulled alive from the thick mud.
Illegal construction also resulted in the felling of trees, which play an essential role as buttresses to reduce the risk of landslides. Experts also say it has been 20 years since a geological survey was last carried out to assess the risks in the area.
“This is a region predisposed to landslides,” said Micla Pennetta, professor of geomorphology at Federico II University in Naples. “Much of the devastation of the past has influenced the current morphology of Ischia. Seismic activity also plays a role, but in addition to the natural aspects there is deforestation and subsequent cementation: this reduced the ability absorption of water and allowed it to quickly reach roads and houses, causing extreme damage.”
Pennetta added: “Not only has the geological map made 20 years ago not been updated, but it was never detailed enough to properly identify the risks. And if proper studies are not done, people can build wherever they want.”
Ischia has a population of around 22,000 and although it draws far less attention than its glitzier neighbor Capri, over the years the island has attracted a crowd that prefers a more low-key holiday, including the former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and who want to enjoy its natural thermal waters.
The island enjoyed a strong tourist trade this summer, the busiest season since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We had a great summer,” said Raffaele, a taxi driver whose colleague is waiting for news of a relative who is among the missing. “This is a terrible tragedy for the island.”
Several historic spas, including Belliazzi, a vast complex built in 1854 that sits on hot springs dating back to Roman times, have been badly damaged. “The springs have been completely saturated,” said Carmine Bernardo, owner of the spa.
As the sun went down, a crowd of people gathered in the port of Casamicciola, where rescuers were searching the sea for possible victims. Vehicles recovered from the sea bordered the coast.
The wind had picked up again and more storms are expected in Ischia and other parts of Italy in the coming days.
A resident rides his Vespa down a muddy street. Photograph: Roberto Salomone/The Guardian
“This is a tragedy that should never have happened,” said Pascquale Manco, who partly blames the catastrophe on poor maintenance of Mount Epomeo, Ischia’s highest peak. “They [the authorities] it also set aside money after the 2009 landslide for maintenance, but it was never used. The mountain has not been taken care of as it should have been. They only act in case of emergency, when what we need are preventive measures”.
Manco was at the port with Rosa Pisani, among the missing was her husband’s cousin.
“We can only continue to hope that they find people alive,” he said. “Hope is the last thing to fade even if reality tells us something different.”