Sardinia devoured by fire. Incendiaries unleashed on the day of maximum alert, the rest was done by the strong mistral wind which fueled the flames, causing them to spread at full speed once they started.
Hectares and hectares of vegetation in ashes, enormous damage to farmers and citizens. Hundreds of people evacuated from their homes and accommodation facilities, apocalyptic scenes from Costa Rei to Siniscola, where there was a stampede towards the beaches to get to safety.
And that's not all: in the early hours of the morning Canadair was already in action in Posada, Gairo and San Giovanni Suergiu. During the night 60 interventions by the fire brigade between the provinces of Nuoro and Cagliari. Now between Posada and Siniscola the situation is back under control, all the evacuees have gone home.
The work of the firefighters continues to deal with the vegetation fires that have severely affected some areas of Sardinia: 60 interventions were carried out during the night between the provinces of Nuoro and Cagliari. Teams and three Canadairs are currently in action in Gairo, Posada (NU) and in San Giovanni Suergiu (SU).
The fire has literally devastated the eastern coast of Sardinia, from Sarrabus to Ogliastra up to Baronia, it has not spared the Cagliari area and Sulcis.
Yesterday's Forestry Corps daily bulletin mentions 42 fires. An impressive number that is not enough to give an idea of the devastating proportions of some fires.
Apocalyptic scenario in the Nuoro area, between Posada and Siniscola , where 4 Canadairs and 2 Forestry Corps helicopters have intervened, including the Super Puma. There are also two injuries in Posada: Peppino Lutzu was hit by the explosion of a gas cylinder, a woman who remained in the house during the fire suffered several burns.
Approximately 600 people evacuated, enormous damage to homes and businesses, the 131 was closed to traffic and many people flocked to the beach to escape the fire. Destroyed the purifier of Monte Longu that serves San Giovanni, still without water this morning. And even if it should come out of the taps again, it will be forbidden to use it for drinking purposes: just this morning the mayor Salvatore Ruiu issued an ordinance to this effect to avert health dangers.
The mayor himself, who has no doubts about the malicious nature of the fire, announced that he will present a complaint to the prosecutor: "The damage suffered is very serious, it is clear that there are arsonists who have to pay for what they have done".
Dramatic day at the gates of Cagliari. The fires, which started from several points, initially hit the Molentargius park in Quartu, on the side of via Fiume. The flames in a very short time, after having devoured and incinerated the vegetation of the park, reached the Poetto, at Margine Rosso. Several explosions were heard, the pine forest caught fire and the former Tamarix, now an illegal subdivision, was literally razed to the ground . There is nothing left. All fled, some managing to save their possessions, others losing everything. Customers also flee from McDonald's, while a firefighter was injured. The situation came under control in the evening.
Very serious damage also in Sarrabus, from the countryside to the coast. In Feraxi, Muravera, a dozen farms were devastated. Seriously damaged the characteristic citrus groves of Sarrabus and a model farm, every year the destination of trips for numerous school groups. Mayor Piu, also in a rage against the arsonists, will present a complaint in the prosecutor's office like Posada's colleague.
Evacuated some farmhouses and, moving to the coast, there were hours of terror in Piscina Rei . Here too a stampede towards the beaches and the Eos Village, with 300 people inside, was evacuated and surrounded by fire.
Fires also in San Giovanni Suergiu in Sulcis, where a road was evacuated and a restaurant closed in Girasole and Gairo in Ogliastra. In San Sperate , in Sadali , where a volunteer fighting against the fire was taken ill. In Capoterra, San Vito (in the characteristic village of San Priamo), Uta and Monastir.
Unanimous outrage against the arsonists, today in the Council of Ministers the approval of a decree that exacerbates the penalties, announced Minister Musumeci . Solinas also communicates that he has given a mandate to the Regional Forestry Corps to intensify investigations throughout the territory to identify and bring those responsible to justice.
Antonio Tajani on Twitter responds to the requests for help from the president of the Region and assures, "the government will not leave the territories affected by the fire alone, those responsible will be punished".
It's not yet time to feel sorry for yourself and proceed to count the enormous damage. Also for today, Monday 7 August, the Civil Protection bulletin speaks of the " extreme danger of fires" on the island. Red alert in the Cagliari area.
(Unioneonline/L)