A thousand tourists are being evacuated after a forest fire broke out in the Apulien region in southern Italy, according to the rescue service.
Three water bomber planes and a helicopter are combating the fire on the Gargano peninsula. Among others, tourists from the popular San Felice bay have been evacuated. Large parts of the Gargano national park are in the fire zone.
The situation is critical, says Mayor Giuseppe Nobiletti of Vieste, to Corriere della Sera.
There is concern that the wind will spread the fire to the tourist complexes. Apulien attracts tourists from all over the world with its clear water and white beaches.
After weeks of extreme heat, fires are breaking out daily in Italy. Last week, two firefighters died in Basilicata, the neighboring region to Apulien.