Adriatic wildfire forces sea evacuation of over 400 in Puglia as flames cut off land routes

The fire and evacuation

More than 400 tourists and beachgoers were evacuated by sea from the coastal municipality of Peschici, in southern Italy’s Apulia region, after a vegetation fire broke out on Sunday. The Italian Coast Guard said in a statement that the maritime route was the "only feasible evacuation route" because flames had blocked inland roads. The operation was still underway as of Sunday evening, with a spokesperson telling AFP that approximately 300 more people were likely to need evacuation.

“More than 400 tourists and bathers were evacuated by sea, the only feasible evacuation route.”

Rescue operation details

Six coast guard ships, three vessels from Italy’s financial police (Guardia di Finanza), and about ten private boats were deployed to carry passengers to safety, the Coast Guard added. The vessels were also supporting rescue efforts. Footage from the scene showed firefighters and Canadair water-bomber aircraft battling the blaze, while a thick plume of smoke was visible from tens of kilometres away. Authorities said the fire did not immediately threaten homes in the city.

Local response

Mayor Luigi d’Arenzo told the local newspaper La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno that the situation was under control and that a Canadair plane was expected from Rome to reinforce firefighting efforts.

“The situation is currently under control.”

The mayor’s assessment, matched by the ongoing evacuations, suggested that emergency services had contained the immediate threat to populated areas, though crews continued to work into the evening.

European wildfire context

The Peschici fire adds to a season of intense wildfires across Europe. In France, one of the worst blazes in decades has burned approximately 42,000 hectares in the Gironde department, forcing the evacuation of more than 220,000 people and approaching within 15 kilometres of Bordeaux. Authorities there warned that the fire’s behaviour remained unpredictable and that full containment could take several days. The Mediterranean region has faced prolonged heatwaves and drought, contributing to extreme fire risk in Italy, Greece, Spain and France.