Massive wildfires rage in Castronovo di Sicilia, Italy, forcing authorities to evacuate residents
Italy: Authorities in the town of Castronovo di Sicilia, in the province of Palermo on the island of Sicily, Italy, declared a state of emergency after a large forest fire spread rapidly on July 20, 2026.
The flames, fueled by extremely hot weather and strong winds, spread from the hillsides into residential areas, causing black smoke to blanket the city and forcing authorities to urgently evacuate some homes for safety.
Mayor Vitale Gattuso said the community was facing a "complete emergency" and called for the deployment of additional forces and resources to contain the spread of the fire.
Firefighters, forest guards, civil defense forces, as well as Canadair aircraft and helicopters, have been deployed to the affected areas to protect homes and control the situation. The fire has also caused damage to crops, farms and water supply systems in some areas.
As of now, authorities have not announced any deaths, while firefighting and evacuation operations are ongoing as hot weather and strong winds continue to fuel the fire's spread.
