Dozens of fires in Sicily, Italy. The island's largest airport has been closed
At temperatures of 47.6 degrees on Monday, 43 fires broke out on the island of Sicily on Tuesday night, one near Palermo Punta Raisi Airport, which was immediately closed. Several dozen people have been evacuated, while civil protection is urging citizens to stay indoors, reports Radio Romania Actualități.
Palermo-Punta Raisi airport is closed, with flights cancelled due to a vegetation fire that broke out nearby overnight. Passengers are denied access to the waiting and boarding areas.
Throughout the day, airport management warns, all scheduled flights will suffer cancellations and delays. Around 30 flights are being diverted from Catania Fontanarossa airport to Palermo airport, but the current situation will make it even more difficult for holidaymakers to travel.
Due to the major fire that broke out tonight, the A29 Alcamo-Trapani motorway has also been closed, as have several stretches of the Palermo - Mazara Del Vallo motorway. Civil protection is urging citizens not to go outside because of the risk of dioxin in the air.
