Massive Fire Engulfs City in Southern Italy… Thousands of Tourists Evacuated
Firefighters announced that a fire broke out on Wednesday morning in the tourist town of Vesti in Apulia (southern Italy), leading to the evacuation of a thousand tourists.
The fire started in a forested area near San Felice Bay, close to a resort town that includes apartments and a summer camp.
Strong winds pushed the flames towards the town, prompting the evacuation decision.
The mayor of Vesti, Giuseppe Nobiliti, told “Il Corriere della Sera” that “the situation is critical.”
A spokesperson for the firefighters told Agence France-Presse: “The fire is being fought on the ground and from the air,” explaining that three Canadair aircraft and a helicopter have been deployed to extinguish the flames.
Numerous small fires break out almost daily in Italy, particularly in the south and on the islands, as the country is experiencing a widespread heatwave.
On July 17, two firefighters lost their lives while combating a fire near the town of Matera in the neighboring region of Basilicate.
