72 landslides in the last 4 years… “This is because all the trees were uprooted 100 years ago”
A landslide on the Italian island of Ischia, west of Naples, has killed at least seven people, the British daily Guardian reported on the 27th (local time) that a long-standing practice of illegal construction has worsened the situation.
According to local authorities, a 3-week-old boy and a 32-year-old boy were killed when a pile of mud atop Mount Epomeo, 789 meters above sea level, the island’s highest peak, hit the village of Casamicciola Terme after the worst storm in 20 years and was hit early in the morning the day before, according to local authorities. There were reports that seven people, including three women, had died.
Six people, including the baby’s parents, siblings aged 11 and 5, and tourists from Bulgaria, are missing.
Dozens of houses were also destroyed, trees were uprooted, and several cars were washed into the sea.
Italian Prime Minister Giorza Meloni declared a state of emergency on the island of Ischia on the same day and allocated a budget of 2 million euros (about 2.78 billion won) to restore landslide damage.
However, residents are angry that the government’s response is not only insufficient and too late.
In particular, there are complaints that illegal structures such as houses and buildings, which are estimated to reach 28,000, have worsened the landslide damage.
Vincenzo Capuano, who lost his car and almost lost his friend in his 60s in the landslide, claimed, “Illegal buildings have been built continuously since the 1920s, but the authorities turned a blind eye to it.”
As illegal buildings continued to rise, the trees were cut down and the supports to prevent landslides disappeared.
In fact, 72 landslides occurred on this island over the four years from 2018 to last year.
Experts said that geological surveys that could estimate the risk of landslides in this area had not been carried out since 20 years ago.
“This is an area prone to landslides,” said Professor Micla Peneta, who teaches topography at the University of Federico II in Naples.
He also said, “It is a problem that the geological map drawn up 20 years ago has not been updated, but the map itself is not detailed enough to predict the risk of landslides.
Pasquale Mancho, a resident who said a cousin of an acquaintance had gone missing, said, “The authorities made a budget to prevent landslides in 2009, but it was not used properly and the mountain was not managed properly.” He complained.
The village also suffered a landslide in 2009, killing a 14-year-old girl, and an earthquake in 2017.
Franco, who was clearing the mud from the entrance of the family-owned hotel, said: “I am angry that this is happening again since 2009. The government at the time promised a lot to make the village safe , but nothing was done.”
In the days before the landslide, it rained heavily across Italy, reaching 126 millimeters in six hours.
One of the officers of the fire department said in an interview with the local media RAI-TV, “The village is full of mud and water. The chances of survival are slim, but we continue the search without giving the best to hope.”
The Island of Ischia, near the Island of Capri, is a resort area with a population of around 22,000, and is frequented by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and those who want to enjoy natural hot springs.
In particular, this summer, after the Corona 19 event receded, the largest number of tourists gathered.
Mr Raffaello, who drives a taxi here, said, “This summer has been great. This is a great tragedy for our island.”
One of the people missing in the landslide is his relative.
/happy news
