Taormina: A worsening fire in the Taormina commune in Messina province, in Italy's Sicily region, threatened nearby homes Tuesday as it risked spreading to the neighboring municipality.

According to Anadolu Agency, the blaze, which started near a nursing home, intensified and spread toward the Castelmola commune, blocking several roads. The flames reportedly threatened several homes and had already damaged a municipal water tank.

Two Canadair firefighting aircraft, three firefighting teams, and two helicopters were reportedly deployed to fight the blaze. "Taormina is burning," Taormina Mayor Cateno De Luca wrote on the US social media platform Facebook. He also described the situation as "truly tragic."

In a subsequent update, De Luca said another fire, in addition to the one that started in the Zappulla district, had broken out in the Tirone-Ziretto district. Municipal police also rescued a woman whose home was seriously threatened by the flames.