Fires in Italy: Palermo airport reopens after several hours of interruption

2023-07-25 10:23:04

Be careful if you go to Sicily this Tuesday. A major fire in progress on the Italian island, which approached Falcone-Borsellino airport in Palermo, caused its closure and the cancellation of a dozen flights. Traffic gradually resumed for departures from 11 a.m., but “for arrivals, the weather conditions are monitored”, specifies the airport’s Twitter account.

Flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle, Lyon and Toulouse were impacted according to their sites. Other flights were diverted to Trapani, located 90 km to the east, said the airport’s Twitter account.

The fire is currently spreading north of the city, threatening Cervello Hospital. For the moment, the situation is under control and no evacuation of the establishment is in progress, specifies the Civil Protection.

A portion of the Palermo-Mazara del Vallo motorway is also closed and regional train traffic is severely disrupted.

According to the Ansa news agency, operations to combat the spread of the fire are complicated by temperatures which exceeded 42 degrees on Monday followingnoon and a “wind from the southwest” of 25 km / h. Nearly 1,500 people were evacuated from the Palermo area. An 88-year-old woman lost her life following the emergency services, delayed by the fires, did not arrive in time.

Last week, Catania airport, the largest on the island, had to close its doors for two days. In the city located at the foot of the Etna volcano, the heat wave deprived hundreds of thousands of inhabitants of electricity and water. The temperature reached 47.6°C. This Tuesday, 45°C should be exceeded in the followingnoon in the north and east of the island.

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