The pipeline carrying drinking water from mainland Italy to the island of Capri near the southern city of Naples has been repaired, and tourists can once again visit the popular destination, Capri Mayor Paolo Falco reported on Sunday.
Falco lifted a restriction on tourists travelling to the island after water started flowing through the pipeline overnight on Saturday.
Supply was disrupted on Saturday as a result of an air pocket in the pipeline. Falco ordered that only permanent residents were to be allowed to travel across the Gulf of Naples to the island, as Capri lacked sufficient water storage to cater to the demand of both residents and tourists.
In response to pressure from hoteliers and travel agents, Falco exempted tourists staying at hotels with adequate water storage from the ban.
Long queues built up on the mainland for ferries to Capri, and ferries that had already departed were forced to turn around.
Naples Prefect Michele Di Bari attributed the fault to an air pocket that disrupted the flow. The company supplying the water had worked quickly to repair the fault, and service had been restored late on Saturday, he said.