Forest fires in Italy continue to rage: Hundreds of people evacuated on the Adriatic coast

Due to the ongoing forest fires in southern Italy, more than 400 people had to be evacuated from hotels and residential buildings on Sunday.

Campomarino - Devastating forest fires have raged in southern Europe for several weeks.

In addition to large parts of the Turkish Mediterranean coast and the Greek island of Evia, Italy is also affected by the fires.

Extreme drought and record heat for weeks had already led to forest fires on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, which are still active.

Forest fires in Italy: Authorities evacuate 400 people from Adria municipality

But also on the Italian Adriatic coast, residents and firefighters are fighting against the relentlessly approaching flames. This is also the case in the municipality of Campomarino, which is about 100 kilometers south of Pescara on the Adriatic Sea. There, the responsible authorities had to evacuate around 400 locals and tourists on Sunday, who were threatened by the danger of the forest fires. Hotels and campsites as well as residential buildings were evacuated.

A video published by the local fire department showed how thick smoke was already wafting through the streets of the community and how flames were eating their way through the bushes to a café.

Several pictures also show how the flames are already raging within the village.

The emergency services tried to get the fires under control with the use of a fire-fighting aircraft and a helicopter.

The fire brigade initially did not report any injuries on Sunday evening.

🔴 #Incendio boschivo a Campomarino Lido, evacuate oltre 400 persone tra alberghi, campeggi e abitazioni nelle vicinanze.

#vigilidelfuoco al lavoro con squadre a terra, un #canadair e l'elicottero del reparto volo di #Bari a protezione delle strutture [# 8agosto 19:30] pic.twitter.com/hjV8Cevsg2

- Vigili del Fuoco (@emergenzavvf) August 8, 2021

Forest fires in southern Europe: Fires in Italy also continue to rage

The emergency services in Italy, as well as those in Greece and Turkey, have been fighting the spreading forest fires for days without any real breaks.

In addition to southern Italy, the islands of Sicily and Sardinia are particularly affected.

"Once again, the protected natural areas are in the grip of devastating fires," said the President of the Federparchi Association for Parks and Nature Reserves, Giampiero Sammuri.

The Aspromonte National Park in southern Italian Calabria and the Parco delle Madonie east of the Sicilian capital Palermo are affected.

Federparchi called for the surveillance and fire protection system to be improved.

Arson is believed to be the cause of many fires. Heat, drought and wind keep the fires going.