Massive fire in the Vesuvius area. Time is running out, and the military has stepped in.

A massive fire is raging in the Vesuvius National Park in southern Italy. The blaze has already spread across an area of three kilometers, destroying 500 hectares of vegetation and consuming sites of significant tourist interest. The military has also been deployed to extinguish the blaze. The race against time is on, as the blaze could soon reach homes.

A fire raging since Friday in the national park near Mount Vesuvius in southern Italy has now spread across three kilometers , authorities reported Saturday. Huge columns of smoke rising from the volcano are visible from dozens of kilometers away, including in the archaeological parks in Pompeii and Naples .

Local authorities do not rule out that the cause of the spreading fire was arson , as was also the case in the past, during a fire that broke out on the slopes of the volcano in 2017.

The most difficult situation occurred on the night from Friday to Saturday near the town of Terzigno , where several hundred residents spent the night on the streets ready to evacuate as the flames began to approach their homes.

The threat to the population has passed, but the fight against the fire continues. Campania authorities have called on the military for assistance . Civil Defense Minister Nello Musumeci announced a nationwide mobilization of the military to support fire crews and coordinate the operation to extinguish the massive blaze. Six firefighting helicopters are participating in the operation.

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According to the Italian news agency Ansa, despite the efforts of emergency services, the situation is far from under control. There are concerns that a change in wind direction could push the storm towards built-up areas. " We are in a very critical situation, " said the city's mayor, Francesco Ranieri, as quoted by the agency.

Flames have already engulfed some houses in Terzigno, and other buildings have been covered in ash. Journalists emphasize that " there is a race against time to prevent even more serious consequences." An additional threat is the upcoming heatwave, which is expected to affect the Campania region starting tomorrow and could significantly hamper rescue efforts.

The damage caused by the fire is currently difficult to assess. However, it is already clear that it is having a devastating impact on the natural environment and its biodiversity – 500 hectares of vegetation have already been destroyed .

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The fire in the Vesuvius region is also a major blow to tourism in this part of Campania. Due to the threat, trails and access routes to the volcano's summit have been closed, and valuable vineyards and areas of exceptional natural and tourist value are being destroyed in the flames .