Catania, 30 July 2021 – Sicily is burning, Catania in particular: the suffocating African wind feeds them flames of different fires. They are counted about thirty outbreaks, which are suspected to be malicious, only in the city. Temperatures in the city are scorching: today it reached 40 °.
The most affected area is that in Fossa Creta district where the flames have licked the houses and several families have been forced to leave their homes. An intense cloud of smoke rises in the area. The service axis is closed to traffic and access to some roads is also blocked. A the fire destroyed the Le Capannine bathhouse of the Plaia seafront. Numerous firefighters are engaged on various fronts. Reinforcements are coming to Catania from other main Sicilian commands.
From the suburbs to the historic center, requests for intervention are multiplying – at least 70 – which are engaging various vehicles and different fire brigade teams. Scenes from hell of fire, with the inhabitants worried about the evolution of the situation: the flames seem to be under control, but the wind is blowing strong again feeding them. The head of the Civil Protection department, Salvo Cocina, recalled all the staff and suspended holidays for the fire emergency not only in Catania but in several provinces in Sicily.
#Today i #fire fighters they carried out 370 interventions for #fireplaces, 140 only in Sicily, criticalities also in Lazio, Puglia and Campania. In the clip AW 139 helicopter in aerial reconnaissance for a fire in via Palermo, just outside #Catania [#30luglio 17:30] pic.twitter.com/0Emioyok1I
– Fire Brigade (@emergenzavvf)
July 30, 2021
Fires also in the province
Due to the worsening of the situation, reinforcements were required from other main Sicilian Commands. At the moment, three regional mobile column teams are in forest fire fighting set-up. Critical situation also in the province: 15 fires reported between Paternò, Ragalna and Biancavilla; 14 interventions in the area of Calatino and six requests between Acireale and Giarre.
Airport stopped
Due to the fires that broke out near the airport, theCatania international airport has suspended flight operations arriving and departing to allow the intervention of the fire brigade helicopters. The Sac.
Musumeci: “Criminal arsonists”
In a note the president of the Region Nello Musumeci takes stock and points the finger at the “arsonists who, as ascertained by investigators, scientifically set fire in several places causing irreversible damage to the woodland and even putting people’s safety at risk”. And he attacks: “We are dealing with criminals who, we reiterate, would deserve life imprisonment for wicked actions that erase the identity and history of our territory, as happened yesterday in Portella della Ginestra and Piana degli Albanesi. I am close to the many people who, even today, they were forced to abandon their homes because they were threatened by fire. And I appeal to everyone, also and above all in the light of the extraordinary notice issued today by the regional Civil Protection, to apply all the necessary preventive measures provided for by the ” red alert “and to limit – he concluded – but I would prefer to say to avoid further fires and problems related to the exceptional heat wave that will affect Sicily until August 6”.
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