Dozen missing in landslide on Italian island

Around a dozen people were missing Saturday after heavy rains caused a landslide on the Italian island of Ischia, the interior minister said, but denied earlier reports that eight people were killed.

A wave of mud and debris swept down the hill in the small town of Casamicciola Terme in the early hours of the morning, engulfing at least one house and sweeping cars down to the sea, media reports and emergency services said.

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.

“At the moment there are no confirmed deaths,” Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said during a visit to emergency services helping coordinate the rescue.