Italy goes up in smoke from wildfires, again this summer
Environment — di Simone Santi
Italy goes up in smoke from wildfires, again this summer: Sardegna, Sicilia and Calabria are burning. In 2025, 31,000 hectares have already been lost.
Italy goes up in smoke from wildfires, again this summer
Italy goes up in smoke from wildfires, again this summer: Sardegna, Sicilia and Calabria are burning. In 2025, 31,000 hectares have already been lost.
- Wildfire alert in Sicilia, Sardegna and Calabria, with locations such as Villasimius and the Riserva dello Zingaro among those affected.
- In 2025 alone, more than 514 square kilometres of land have already gone up in flames across Italy.
- The report highlights that 95 per cent of fires are anthropogenic in origin.
A wave of wildfires is hitting Italy hard, with Sardegna and Sicilia among the regions worst affected in recent hours. In Sardegna, the fire at Punta Molentis near Villasimius destroyed dozens of cars and forced 200 beachgoers to flee by sea. The area is now off limits. In Osilo, a farmer sustained burns while trying to save his farm. In Orosei, 150 people were evacuated due to a fire near the coast. A red alert for wildfire risk was issued across the entire eastern strip of the island, with aerial assets deployed on multiple fronts. In Sicilia, the flames struck the Riserva dello Zingaro, reaching as far as Scopello and forcing the overnight evacuation of 50 homes. The blaze was contained by dawn, but the environmental and economic damage is severe.
#NEWS - #Incendio in #Sardegna, fiamme a ridosso della spiaggia di #Villasimius, bagnanti in fuga.
Grave situazione a #PuntaMolentis, il fuoco ha bloccato quasi integralmente le possibili uscita. Mobilitata anche la Capitaneria di porto di #Cagliari per una possibile operazione
Grave situazione a #PuntaMolentis, il fuoco ha bloccato quasi integralmente le possibili uscita. Mobilitata anche la Capitaneria di porto di #Cagliari per una possibile operazione
Several fires also broke out in the province of Vibo Valentia, in Calabria, between 25 and 27 July. In Joppolo, ten people were evacuated from a residential complex as helicopters were deployed to fight the blaze. Fires also broke out in the provincial capital, as well as in Nicotera, Ricadi and other nearby municipalities, where hotels, holiday villages and homes had to be temporarily evacuated in some cases, primarily due to the intense smoke.
A scene that unfortunately repeats itself every year, and one that confirms the trend highlighted in recent days by the report "L'Italia in fumo 2025" produced by Legambiente: although 2024 saw a decrease in forest fires compared to previous years, the phenomenon continues to strike Italy's southern regions hard, exacerbated by drought, wind and climate change. And in all likelihood, criminal activity as well.
More than 514 square kilometres affected by fires in 2024
According to Ispra, in 2024 514 square kilometres of land went up in flames — roughly equivalent to half the area of the municipality of Rome. Of these, approximately 103 square kilometres were forested areas, predominantly Mediterranean scrubland, deciduous broadleaf woodland and conifer forests. The worst-affected regions are Sicilia, Calabria and Sardegna, which together account for 66 per cent of the total forest area burned. The province of Reggio Calabria alone lost more than 10 square kilometres of woodland, equal to 10 per cent of the national total.
Dal primo gennaio al 18 luglio del 2025 si sono verificati 653 roghi che hanno mandato in fumo 30.988 ettari di territorio pari a 43.400 campi da calcio tg24.sky.it/cronaca/2025/0…
The report highlights that 95 per cent of fires are anthropogenic in origin: either accidental (uncontrolled burning of plant waste, cigarette butts, barbecues) or deliberate (driven by economic interests, acts of retaliation, property speculation). At the same time, climate change amplifies the phenomenon through heatwaves, drought and lightning strikes that lengthen and intensify fire seasons. Also under scrutiny is land abandonment and the decline of agro-sylvo-pastoral practices, which encourage the build-up of biomass and the spread of fire. So-called "interface fires" — those that develop between natural areas and built-up zones — are on a strong upward trend, with serious consequences for homes, infrastructure and public health. Beyond the destruction of woodland heritage, wildfires cause extensive damage to biodiversity and soil, disrupt water cycles and release millions of tonnes of CO₂ into the atmosphere. Wildfire smoke, laden with fine particulate matter and toxic substances, is considered a growing health risk, with effects on the heart, lungs and nervous system. Italy loses more than 2 billion euros every year to forest fires, between direct costs (damage to crops, structures and infrastructure) and indirect costs that should not be underestimated, such as those relating to health, tourism and ecosystem services.