PANTELLERIA – A fire has broken out overnight on an island off the coast of Sicily the Italian news agency ASNA have reported.

 The fire reportedly started at around 19:30 on Wednesday and spread quickly by a strong breeze, destroyed vegetation and forced residents to evacuate their homes.

 One of the fires broke on in the neighbourhood of Khamma while the other started in Gadir.

 There were no reported deaths or injuries.

 In total 30 people were evacuated from the town of Gadir overnight. The fire also destroyed some electricity pylons causing a power cut in the towns of Favarotta, Khamma and Perimetrale.

 The former Italian World Cup winner Marco Tardelli was among those evacuated from the area as well as luxury fashion CEO Giorgio Armani.

 The head of the Sicily Civil Guard Salvo Cocina said that “the fire is under control” and that “a few smaller fires still remain.”

 Two Canadair helicopters were deployed together with 20 firefighters and five emergency vehicles in an effort to help tackle the blaze and they remain in operation to put out the final flames.

 Speaking to ANSA the mayor Vicenzo Campo said that “it is unlikely to be an arson attack as the fire broke out from two separate points hundreds of metres apart.”

 An investigation has been opened into the exact cause by the public prosecution office.

jd