At least eight people have been killed in landslides on the Italian holiday island of Ischia, officials say.

Infrastructure minister Matteo Salvini said: “There are eight people dead in the Ischia landslide. Rescuers are working in difficult conditions.”

Multiple landslides were caused by rainstorms and flooding in the town of Casamicciola Terme, which is around 20 miles off the coast of Naples.

Several people are believed to be missing after heavy rainfall destroyed buildings on the island, with rescue operations underway, the Italian fire brigade said.

The disaster saw a car dragged into the sea, but the two occupants were rescued, it added.

Motorboats and helicopters involved in the rescue have struggled to access the island due to the bad weather.

Gianna Capuano, an Italian civil protection official, told Sky TG24 that a young child was among the missing.

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One resident told an Italian news agency there had been heavy rain from “around midnight” with “roars heard” at around 3am local time.

She claimed the first landslide was followed by roughly five others.

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