Authorities on the Italian island of Ischia prepared Friday to evacuate more than 1,000 people from at-risk areas following warnings of heavy rain, just days after a deadly landslide.
“Intense rainfall is expected,” with a consequent risk of landslides, rapid mudflows, rock falls [and] flooding” from Ischia to Naples and the Vesuvius volcano, said officials in the southern region of Campania.
Heavy rains six days ago caused a wave of mud and debris to sweep through the small town of Casamicciola Terme on Ischia, killing 11 people, with one woman still missing.
Geologists have warned bad weather risks causing further landslides on parts of the island, which sits near Capri and is thronged with tourists in summer.
Local authorities said over 1,000 people would be evacuated Friday by bus to hotels.
The civil protection agency said between 40 and 50 millimetres of rain is forecast on Friday, compared to the 100 millimeters that fell in the area on November 26.
The “yellow” weather alert, the lowest level warning, is expected to last until Sunday.
Experts said last week’s disaster was caused by a fatal mix of deforestation, overdevelopment and a lack of mitigation strategies.