Italy braces for fourth heatwave as wildfires force hundreds to be evacuated by sea from Puglia
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Firefighters in southern Italy are battling several major wildfires as rising temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds fuel blazes across the country, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate.
In Puglia’s Gargano peninsula, more than 400 people, many of them tourists staying at campsites surrounded by pine forests, were evacuated by sea on Sunday after flames spread towards coastal areas.
A further 58 residents were evacuated from their homes in Maratea, in neighbouring Basilicata, as a wildfire swept through the mountainous area overlooking the town. Canadair firefighting aircraft have been deployed to help contain the blaze.
Other parts of Italy have also been affected, with a large wildfire on the outskirts of Rome on Sunday causing traffic disruption, while train services in the Molise region were affected by nearby fires.
The country is facing growing concerns over the scale of wildfires, with more than half of fires attributed to arson, according to Italy’s environmental protection agency Ispra. In 2025, wildfires destroyed around 123 square kilometres of forest, equivalent to roughly 135,000 football pitches.
Authorities in Calabria recently condemned reports of suspected animal cruelty linked to fires after officials alleged that arsonists had used cats to help spread flames by attaching flammable materials to them.
The latest outbreaks come as Italy prepares for its fourth major heatwave of the year, with temperatures expected to reach between 38C and 40C from Wednesday, increasing the risk of further fires across the country.
