The fire, causing serious environmental damage on the island of Santa Maria , in the La Maddalena archipelago, has reached the sea.

The regional firefighting team's aircraft, three helicopters and a Canadair, are still engaged in clearing a vast area, coordinated by the operations room of the Tempio Forestry Inspectorate.

Approximately five hectares of Mediterranean scrub have been destroyed by the fire. Ground teams and personnel from the La Maddalena Forestry Corps station are also working on the site.

So far, no damage to buildings has been reported to the Tempio operations room, but some people have reportedly voluntarily abandoned their homes, which, however, were not reached by the flames.

Investigators from the Forestry Corps, coordinated by the director of the Tempio inspectorate, Giannicola Zuccarelli , are ascertaining the causes of the fire.

The flames may have started near some homes. It cannot be ruled out that the cause of the fire was reckless conduct by someone in the area.

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