Wildfire rips through Sicily as evacuation ordered and fireworks factory under threat

Wildfire rips through Sicily as evacuation ordered and fireworks factory under threat The large-scale fire is driven by sirocco winds and has reached the Santo Stefano Quisquina town in the Agrigento province of Sicily in southern Italy A huge blaze is currently ripping through a tourist-favourite region of Italy, as more than 100 people have already been evacuated. The large-scale fire has reached the Santo Stefano Quisquina town in the Agrigento province, located just an hour and a half away from Palermo in Sicily. The areas surrounding the popular holiday spot are among the most affected, with huge plumes of dark smoke billowing into the sky. More than 100 people have already been evacuated as a precaution, with authorities now concerned about an oxygen depot, a medical clinic, a petrol station and a fireworks factory in the vicinity of the flames. A large firefighting response remains at the scene to battle the flames, including Canadairs - aircraft designed for aerial firefighting. The large-scale fire is driven by sirocco winds, a hot, dry, and often dust-laden wind that originates in the Sahara Desert and blows northward across the Mediterranean Sea into southern Europe. L'Unione Sarda reports the situation has been described as "dramatic" by Santo Stefano di Quisquina's mayor, Francesco Cacciatore. The official urged people in the Canfuto and Bosco districts to leave "immediately". A road closure is also in place in both directions on the 118 state road Corleonese Agrigentina. Also in Agrigento, the flames have reportedly reached the edge of the Andromeda Theatre. Blazes broke out in Catania as well yesterday, with firefighters sent to at least 11 wildfire reports. Blazes have also been reported along the motorway connecting Palermo and Catania and several blackouts have taken place in central Palermo. La Republica reports families that were not in the flames' path barricaded themselves in their homes to keep the smoke out. The paper says: "The heat was so intense that railings and doorknobs became red-hot. Smoke engulfed several neighbourhoods, and by 4am temperatures in the city exceeded 40 degrees Celsius."