Rescue efforts are ongoing for Giuseppe Guadagnino and his mother Agnese Minieri, who have been missing since Tuesday night, August 27, after a severe rainstorm hit Campania, particularly the provinces of Avellino and Caserta. The search, which has been underway for over 30 hours, is focusing on the Talanico area in San Felice a Cancello. Firefighters from the Special Operations Group (GOS) are employing excavators, search dogs, flood rescue teams, topography experts, and thermal drones to locate the missing individuals. Despite scouring the area, there has been no sign of the mother and son.
In addition to the search efforts, the severe weather has caused significant flooding in other areas. In Volturara’s Piana del Dragone, the heavy rain led to the overflowing of a local stream, inundating streets and farmland. Firefighters from the Montella station, supported by local Carabinieri and police, managed to contain the floodwaters and prevent damage to nearby homes. Meanwhile, the head of the Campania Civil Protection, Italo Giulivo, conducted a situation assessment in San Felice a Cancello and met with mayors from the most affected municipalities to discuss the damage and ongoing rescue operations.
The Italian government has requested a state of emergency from the Meloni administration due to the extensive damage. Over the past 24 hours, 34 volunteer teams equipped with special vehicles and pumps have been working to support affected communities and clear roads of debris. Giulivo emphasized the severity of the weather event, noting that the rainfall exceeded expectations and highlighting the importance of heeding weather warnings. In Irpinia, significant damage was reported, with mudflows and debris affecting roads and properties, particularly between Sirignano, Mugnano del Cardinale, and Baiano. Despite numerous interventions, no injuries have been reported.
