"Yesterday we experienced dramatic moments, fear, anguish. We saw the fire approaching the house very quickly."
Salvatore Loru, a former farmer from Villacidro , is speaking. His family is one of many evacuated due to the inferno that broke out yesterday in the countryside . A large fire started in a ditch on the former 196 road at the entrance to the town and, fanned by strong winds, spread, devastating farms and woods.
"The Carabinieri came and evacuated us, then the deputy mayor and the councilor came to get the girls. Luckily, they got us to safety," Loru explains.
Now the damage is being assessed: "It's still being quantified, but it's very serious. An olive grove, many oak trees, pear trees, and Mediterranean scrub were destroyed. I think grazing will be prohibited here now, " he explains dejectedly.
Clean-up operations are still underway, having restarted this morning with a helicopter from Villasalto following the rekindling of some fires .
