More than 200 people were evacuated after a major wildfire broke out Friday evening near Lake Garda in northern Italy, spreading rapidly through the night in the municipality of Tignale on the lake's western shore. The fire originated in Olzano, a hamlet within Tignale, and forced dozens of holidaymakers to flee a nearby resort complex alongside local residents.
Strong winds hampered firefighting efforts on Saturday morning, as two Canadair water-bombing aircraft joined ground crews from the fire service and civil protection in round-the-clock operations. Mayor Daniele Bonassi described "terrifying scenes" around a local sanctuary as flames advanced.
The blaze comes as Italy endures a weeks-long heatwave with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, with red health alerts in force across nearly all major cities.