Sicily’s Catania airport has been shut until Wednesday following a fire.

Local reports say firefighters battled for 90 minutes to contain the blaze, which broke out late on Sunday.

The Ansa news agency described people scrambling to get out of the airport after the fire broke out, while one passenger told the Times of Malta it was ‘total chaos’.

Catania is one of 16 Italian cities put on hot weather alert by the Italian authorities at the weekend.

The city’s airport is the closest to attractions such as Mount Etna and Taormina (pictured).

The UK Foreign Office said: “Due to a fire in the airport terminal, Catania airport is closed until 14.00 on 19 July. You should contact your travel operator for details of cancelled or diverted flights.”