Search operations continued Wednesday for a missing woman and her son, aged 74 and 42. They were reported missing Tuesday night in San Felice a Cancello near Caserta after a mudslide.
Their Apecar (three-wheeler) was swept away by mud and debris from a landslide. The landslide occurred in Talanico, in San Felice a Cancello, due to bad weather. Some homes have been evacuated, and the search for the missing continues.
The missing are a 42-year-old man and his 74-year-old mother. The two went to their land with an Apecar but did not return. Their three-wheeled vehicle was swept into a ravine by the mud. Recovery efforts are ongoing. Investigations revealed they were harvesting hazelnuts when the landslide occurred. They tried to escape in the car but were overwhelmed by the mud.
The search and rescue operations are coordinated by the Prefecture of Caserta. Streets in Talanico were covered by mud and debris, causing fear among residents.
“We are directing all available means to Talanico, including search dogs,” said Paolo Massimi, the fire brigade commander of Caserta, to Ansa.
“We are in constant contact with the Civil Protection and assisting many citizens.” The mudslide descended rapidly from the hill, weakened by heavy rains and deforestation. Rescuers found the Apecar at the bottom of a cliff, but not the pair. They are believed to have been thrown out upon impact.
Search operations resumed Wednesday morning with firefighters and Carabinieri police with sniffer dogs. Significant damage occurred due to the Caserta mudslide, and several homes were evacuated. Torrential rain and thunderstorms hit the Campania region, particularly Caserta and Avellino, on Tuesday night.
