In view of a devastating and uncontrolled forest fire on Mount Vesuvius, the Italian government declared a national state of emergency on Saturday evening. A fire front several kilometers long is eating its way through the forests of the national park on Monte Somma and has already destroyed hundreds of hectares of vegetation. The local authorities suspect arson.
"I have just signed the decree to impose the extraordinary state of mobilization of the national civil protection to support the Campania region," explained Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci. This measure had become necessary following the major fire in the national park and had been agreed with the region. Musumeci was responding to an urgent appeal from the President of the Campania region, Vincenzo De Luca.
The situation on the ground remains dramatic. Over 150 firefighters are battling the flames on the ground, supported by an armada of firefighting planes and helicopters, including six Canadair aircraft. But strong winds and a persistent heatwave are making the firefighting work considerably more difficult. The mayor of Terzigno, Francesco Ranieri, where the fire broke out, speaks of "terrible hours". It is only thanks to the tireless efforts of the helpers that evacuations have been avoided so far.
While the fight against the flames continues, experts are already warning of the long-term consequences. The Italian Geological Society is sounding the alarm: the burnt slopes are now extremely prone to landslides. "The 'scar' left by the fire is weakening the area," explains President Rodolfo Carosi. Climate change would increase heavy rainfall, threatening massive soil instability. For Vesuvius, which is already scarred by the devastating fires of 2017, this means another environmental disaster with unforeseeable consequences.
