The Italian government has closed down the Catania Airport, located near numerous key tourist destinations in the eastern part of Italy due fire outbreak that halted operations.
Late on Sunday, an unforeseen fire ignited within the airport premises. Fortunately, there have been no reports of any casualties or injuries, as stated by the airport authority. Firefighting teams responded promptly to the emergency, managing to suppress the flames within an hour and a half of their emergence.
Catania Airport holds considerable significance due to its proximity to numerous key tourist spots on the eastern side of the Sicily island. The abrupt closure could possibly impact the local tourism sector, which is already facing challenges amidst the record-breaking temperatures.
However, the fire department has yet to release an official report detailing potential causes of the incident. They also refrained from speculating if the fire had any connection to the prevailing elevated temperature levels in the region.
Catania was one of several Italian cities, including Palermo, the Sicilian capital, and Messina, the island’s third largest city, that issued a high-temperature red alert on Sunday. The nationwide warning was a precautionary measure in anticipation of an impending heatwave expected to shatter existing temperature records in the days to come.
The temporary suspension of Catania Airport operations, in light of this unanticipated event, is in effect until Wednesday. Until then, it’s advised for travelers to seek alternative travel arrangements and stay updated on the situation.