Italy Closes Mount Vesuvius to Visitors Amid Spreading Wildfire

Italian firefighters are battling a wildfire on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, prompting authorities to close all hiking trails around the volcano near Naples to tourists.

Since Friday, the fire has been spreading through the Vesuvius National Park, with 12 firefighting teams and six Canadair planes actively working to contain the blaze. Additional reinforcements are en route from other regions, and drones are being deployed to monitor the fire’s progression more effectively, according to the national fire service’s update on Telegram.

“For safety reasons and to support firefighting and cleanup efforts, all activities along the Vesuvius National Park trail network are suspended until further notice,” the park announced on Saturday.

Mount Vesuvius remains a major tourist attraction, with nearly 620,000 visitors reaching the volcano’s crater in 2024. While the smoke from the wildfire has been visible from the nearby Pompeii archaeological site, the historic site remains open to visitors.

Experts warn that European countries face increasing wildfire risks due to intensifying summer heatwaves, a trend linked to global warming.