A devastating fire has swept through a major holiday campsite on the shores of Lake Garda, one of Italy’s most popular tourist destinations, leaving several people injured and destroying a large section of the resort.
The blaze broke out early Sunday morning at the Bella Italia campsite in Peschiera del Garda, on the southern shore of Italy’s largest lake.
According to German public broadcaster ARD and Tagesschau, the fire began in one of the bungalows at around 6 a.m. before rapidly spreading to neighboring wooden structures.
Around 30 wooden holiday bungalows were destroyed, along with several vehicles and at least one camper van. Images from the scene showed rows of accommodation reduced to debris after flames swept through the campsite.
Emergency services treated 24 people, while seven were taken to hospital. One guest suffered serious burns to the legs, while several others were treated after inhaling smoke or carbon monoxide, according to Tagesschau.
Among those injured was a Swiss family with three children.
The emergency response also included an extraordinary intervention by four off duty firefighters from Dietzenbach, Germany, who happened to be staying at the campsite.
Before local firefighters arrived, the four men reportedly woke sleeping guests, attempted to contain the flames, removed gas equipment from dangerous areas and helped transport an injured person to hospital.
Firefighters faced an additional danger from gas cylinders located around the campsite. Authorities said at least one explosion was heard during the incident.
The fire was eventually brought under control.
Initial indications suggest the blaze was accidental and started inside one of the bungalows, although authorities are continuing to examine the circumstances.
The incident quickly attracted attention beyond Italy, particularly in Germany, where searches related to “Campingplatz Gardasee” surged as travelers sought information about the fire.
Lake Garda attracts millions of visitors and is particularly popular with tourists from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other European countries. Campsites and holiday villages around the lake are an important part of the region’s tourism industry.
For travelers currently staying around Lake Garda, the fire serves as a reminder to follow instructions from local authorities and accommodation operators as emergency crews continue their work.
