Xinhua
23 Aug 2023, 00:00 GMT+10
ROME, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- At least 700 residents had to be evacuated as a vast wildfire scorched the Italian island of Elba late on Monday, authorities said. The blaze was contained on Tuesday.
The fire was fueled by back-to-back summer heatwaves and droughts that have left trees and plants in the region dry and brittle. Strong winds have also been a factor, regional authorities said.
The blaze on the island off Italy's northwestern coast was the latest -- and among the fastest spreading -- in a series of wildfires that have left large parts of Italy and other parts of the Mediterranean charred.
On Elba, firefighters said the blazes could be brought under control thanks to the relatively small size of the island and to the strategic use of dozens of experienced ground teams flown in from the mainland. Two Canadair aircraft were also deployed to drop water on the burning areas.
Elba is Italy's third largest island after Sicily and Sardinia, which also had their share of devastating wildfires earlier this summer.
The cause of the fire on Elba is not yet known. In Sicily and Sardinia, government and emergency services officials said that arson could not be ruled out as the cause of the fire.
Islands are especially vulnerable to the hot and dry conditions that have gripped much of Europe during the past two summers. In July, fires also scorched Italy's mainland region of Calabria, Spain's Canary Islands, Cyprus, the French island of Corsica, and many of the Greece's islands.
Get a daily dose of Europe Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Europe Sun.
More InformationMEXICO CITY, Mexico: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said this week that her government is investigating possible environmental...
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida: In a landmark flight for three nations and a veteran U.S. spacefarer, a four-member astronaut crew launched...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: In a striking escalation of tensions between the executive and judicial branches, the Trump administration has filed...
BANGKOK, Thailand: This week, Thailand implemented land border restrictions, including a ban on tourists traveling to Cambodia, as...
THE HAGUE, Netherlands: NATO is pressing ahead with a sweeping new defense spending target, calling on all 32 member nations to commit...
NEW YORK, U.S.: A political newcomer is on the verge of reshaping New York City politics. Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblyman...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Walmart is set to close a major Sam's Club fulfillment center in Fort Worth, Texas, as part of a shift in...
SAN FRANCISCO, California: A U.S. judge has dismissed a copyright lawsuit filed by 13 authors against Meta Platforms, the company that...
DUBAI, U.A.E: Oman is set to introduce a personal income tax as part of its strategy to reduce dependency on hydrocarbon revenues....
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. President Donald Trump dropped a bombshell on Friday announcing he had terminated trade talks with Canada....
Federal officials, then-Governor of Indiana Eric Holcomb, union leaders, company representatives, and dozens of guests assembled at...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: New York City's financial markets reacted sharply this week as shares of local banks and real estate investment...