Sicily travel warning: Wildfires force evacuation of tourists and temporarily close Palermo airport

Wildfires are raging across the Italian island of Sicily causing evacuations and airport closures.

Palermo Airport, which services the island’s capital, was forced to close early on Tuesday morning after fires broke out nearby.

The airport has now partially reopened, but fires continue to burn in other areas of the island, including in the famed archaeological park of Segesta.

It comes as Sicily swelters in soaring temperatures, creeping towards the European record that was reached two years ago on the island.

Catania, a city on the east coast, registered 47.6 C on Monday afternoon.

In Carruba di Riposto, just north of the city of Catania, a vast wildfire is devastating an area of rich vegetation.

As a precaution, guests at the resorts of Donna Carmela and San Antonio and the Galea agritourism have been evacuated.

Near Trapani on the west coast of the island, resorts and hotels in San Vito Lo Capo have also been evacuated.

The renowned archaeological park of Segesta has been badly affected by fires too. The park is home to some of Italy’s most important ancient buildings.

This includes the Doric Temple dating from the 5th century BC, which local reports say was engulfed in flames on Monday night.

A wildfire caused Palermo’s Falcone Borsellino Airport to halt air traffic until 11 am local time on Tuesday according to an announcement on social media.

The blaze broke out on Monday evening above the town of Cinisi with firefighters battling to contain it throughout the night.

The airport, which serves the island’s capital, later published a tweet stating that a limited number of outbound flights were being permitted to leave. A plane from the Italian city of Turin had also been able to land.

Transport minister Matteo Salvini said the