Several holidaymakers fled into the sea in the northern Italian Adriatic seaside resort of Bibione because of a forest fire and were rescued there by the coast guard. According to media reports, the fire in the area popular with holidaymakers broke out yesterday.
Several fire brigades and a firefighting helicopter fought the flames on the border between the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia regions. The operation continued on Saturday.
“Shouldn’t be missing”
Videos showed how the fires ate up the trees and thick smoke rose into the sky, which could be seen from miles away. “We hope that it will not be revoked in the coming hours, but there should be no missing people,” said Deputy Mayor of San Michele al Tagliamento Pierluigi Grosseto. The police are investigating the cause of the fire. Because of the drought, Grosseto says it’s possible the flames were self-igniting. The forces fought four fires.
No end to the heat in southern Europe
People in large parts of southern Europe will have to wait in vain for a recovery from the heat and drought over the weekend. Because the wind is blowing hard and it has been dry in many places for a long time, there is no end in sight to the forest fires. The state of emergency is still in force in Portugal, and France has now obtained support from abroad to extinguish the fire.
Experts warn: If drastic climate protection measures are not taken and implemented, these extreme weather events will become the new normal.