SVT reporter after the landslide in Ischia: “despair, despair”

The Italian tourist island of Ischia was hit hard by a landslide this weekend. At least eight people died, many are still missing and hundreds of people were left homeless.

SVT correspondent Jennifer Wiegrup is in Italy:

– It is, of course, a great tragedy. In September, a similar disaster occurred in the Le Marche region and there is great concern about what is happening and the consequences of these heavy rains, which come very often, she said.

“despair and despair”

Ischia is a very popular island off the coast of Naples with many foreign tourists, including Swedes.

– Now there is despair and despair. Hundreds have been left homeless and what you see is almost indescribable. There is mud everywhere and in the sea there are washed up buses and cars.

– A state of emergency has been declared for at least a year, which means you can get money without bureaucratic hassle, but the situation is desperate and people are in despair.

In connection with the landslide, house after house started sliding into the hilly terrain.

One house fell on top of another down to the village, simply put. These buildings did not stand a chance.

“Maybe it was built in a dangerous way.”

The disaster may also have been affected by the fact that many homes were built without building permits.

– It may have been built in a dangerous way, says Jennifer Wiegrup.

At the same time, the Italian media are discussing who is at fault.

– The landslide happened anyway. But the consequences depend in part on how the houses are built. A few years ago there was talk of amnesty for people who built illegally and then there were 27,000 applications for building permits after that in Ischia.

– This says a lot about the situation on the island. There are those who say that the sheriffs and governors must be imprisoned for allowing this to happen.

Ischia has been hit by two previous landslides since 2009.

– What people criticize is that nothing happened, no measures were taken, but you just communicate with us and hope for the best. This is why the criticism is so harsh against the rulers now.