Sardinia devoured by fire, triggers found: now it's time to hunt for arsonists

There is the hand of man behind most of the fires that devastated half of Sardinia yesterday , with hundreds of hectares gone up in smoke and at least 600 people evacuated from homes and resorts and a stampede from beaches threatened by flames.

The intentional nature has been ascertained by Forestry agents for some fires that broke out in the south of the island and in Gairo , in the Nuorese area: triggers have been found which testify to the voluntary action by unknown persons so far .

The rest was done by the Mistral storm which fueled the fire, forcing the use of an impressive task force of helicopters and canadairs.

In Gairo , according to what was ascertained by Forestry investigators, the fire was started just before 8 pm , when the mistral wind reached its maximum intensity of the day. About fifty hectares of low Mediterranean scrub, pasture and a very small portion of wood were up in smoke , fortunately saved by the teams on the ground. Several triggers were found above the guard channels, built as hydrogeological defense works above the town.

Still uncertain , however, the nature of the fire that broke out in the coastal towns of Posada and Siniscola , on the north-eastern coast of the island, where at least 600 people were evacuated. A fire that caused very serious damage: 400 hectares destroyed by fire among the villages scattered with scattered houses, farms and tourist businesses . The flames arrived close to the houses on the coast, between Monte Longu and San Giovanni di Posada.

The flames started around 2 pm yesterday from the hinterland, then pushed along the coast by the mistral. The investigations are entrusted to the provincial investigative unit of the Forestry Corps (Nipas), supported by the regional unit (Niar).

All the deeds will be sent to the competent prosecutors of Nuoro and Lanusei, the first for the territories of Posada and Siniscola, the second for Gairo.

"COMPLETE INVESTIGATIONS" - The Forestry investigators work by collecting testimonies, acquiring all the images of the cameras present in the places where the fire hit, including those of private individuals. «They are complex investigations - explains the commander of the Regional Forestry Corps Fabio Migliorati - we hope to get to those responsible soon. We are following a precise investigative lead on the Muravera fires, but at the moment we cannot say more. As far as the investigations into Posada are concerned, this morning we reinforced the Nuoro investigative unit from Cagliari. We are really doing our best, the Region has given precise indications. We must thank all the women and men who worked to put out the fires: some almost jumped into the flames in order to win this battle. Those were really dramatic days."

As for Quartu Sant'Elena, according to the first findings of the Forestry, the fire could have been caused by a leap of fire from the burning reeds of Molentargius. Further details will be forthcoming in the next few hours.

THE WOUNDED – And while the flames continue to rage on the island , the number of wounded rises to four . In the gigantic fire that broke out between Posada and Siniscola, on the north-eastern coast of Sardinia, in addition to the pensioner overwhelmed by the explosion of a cylinder and the 78-year-old woman who was burned in her arms and legs in San Giovanni di Posada , a 23-year-old from Siniscola was got intoxicated .

The young man suffered acute respiratory failure due to the smoke given off by the flames and was transferred with the 118 helicopter rescue to the San Francesco di Nuoro hospital in code red.

In the morning alarm also in Dolianova , with the flames reaching 1 km from the town .

At Poetto the terrible images of the devastation after the fires.

In Posada , where thousands of people have been without water since this morning due to damage to a drinking water treatment plant , the wrath of the holidaymakers against the arsonists was unleashed: «Damned, they had to burn them».

Words of condemnation also from the bishop of Nuoro : «The arsonists don't love the island.