The Italian island of Capri stopped the arrival of tourists today due to problems with the water supply from the mainland.

Mayor Paolo Folco announced the ban at seven in the morning, as a result of which some ferries already on their way to the island were forced to turn back.

The company in charge of the island's water supply said it had experienced technical difficulties on Thursday and although it later announced it had resolved them, Capri is still without water.

In announcing the ban, Falco warned of a "truly extraordinary situation", saying that although there was some water on the island on Friday, reservoirs were emptying.

"The situation is getting worse with thousands of tourists coming to Capri every day," he said.

Residents of the island near Naples have the right to 25 liters of drinking water per family, the mayor announced.

The ban on tourist arrivals will remain in effect until further notice, he added. Capri, an island known for its white villas, bays and top hotels, has about 13 inhabitants.