2023-07-17 12:05:06
Catania airport in Sicily will remain closed until Wednesday noon due to a fire that broke out overnight from Sunday to Monday, before being brought under control by firefighters. “Flight operations are suspended until Wednesday, July 19, 2 p.m.,” the airport tweeted.
According to the media, the fire, which did not cause any fatalities, started a little before midnight and was not brought under control until dawn. The passengers present were all evacuated by security personnel after thick smoke invaded a large part of this international airport.
Flight operations are suspended until 2.00pm on Wednesday 19 July. #CTAairport
— Catania Airport (@CTAairport) July 17, 2023
This fire comes as Italy, like Spain, is hit by an intense heat wave. 16 cities are on red alert across the country, with 36/37°C forecast. But the mercury should reach 40°C on Monday and 42°C on Tuesday in Rome, where it could be even hotter than in Palermo, in the very south of the country (38°C), according to the army weather site Italian air.
The two-day delay before the reopening of the airport should make it possible to repair the damage caused by the fire and to ventilate the building still impregnated with the smell of smoke, according to the media.
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