Wildfire on Gargano Prompts Tourist Evacuations by Sea

A significant wildfire is raging in the Pile Fraballe area of Peschici, Foggia, on Italy's Gargano peninsula. The blaze is consuming Mediterranean scrub and Aleppo pines, visible as a large smoke plume stretching for dozens of kilometers. Firefighters and civil protection personnel are on the scene, with aerial support requested and deployed.

The fire's intensity, fueled by strong winds, has spread towards the Baia Zaiana area and reached close to the sea. This has prompted the evacuation of tourists from nearby beaches. The coast guard is actively transferring people from the shore onto boats to ensure their safety as the flames approach.

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The wind today is fueling the flames.

Local authorities have implemented traffic measures due to the fire. The coastal road SP 52 between Vieste and Peschici is closed, with buses rerouted to the SS 89 highway. Some bus stops have been temporarily suspended. Additionally, a section of the SS 693 road near Cagnano Varano has been closed. The municipality of Peschici has opened an elementary school building to provide shelter and assistance to those affected.

The mayor of Peschici, Luigi d'Arenzo, expressed concern over the fire's persistence in a worrying area and the potential impact on local businesses and tourism. Ferrovie Gargano, a local transport company, also voiced "great concern" for the fires affecting the Baie Zaiana and Manaccora areas, highlighting the risk to businesses and tourists' holidays.

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The Gargano is burning. And with it, the activities of many operators, as well as the holidays and expectations of hundreds of tourists who have chosen our territory, risk going up in smoke.