(ANSA) – ROME, JUL 27 – Italy in the grip of fires.
There are 159,437 hectares of woodland and not devastated by flames in 2021, 154.8% more than in 2020. The figure emerges from the new report “Italy in smoke” produced by Legambiente. Fires often of a malicious or criminal nature, aggravated by the climate crisis and drought emergency. From 1 January to mid-July 2022 26,270 hectares have already been burned and 32,921 interventions carried out by the Fire Brigade from 15 June to 15 of this month due to flames in woods, urban and rural areas (+4,040 compared to the same period in 2021).
Compared to 2020, crimes between arson, negligent and generic fires (5,385, + 27.2% on 2020) and people reported (658, + 19.2%) increase, even if they continue to be underpowered, as well as kidnappings: 107, with + 35.4% compared to 2020. The figure relating to arrests, just 16, confirms the difficulties in identifying those responsible for the fires.
Sicily remains the region most affected by fires in 2021, both in terms of number of crimes (993), and in terms of hectares crossed by flames (81,590, 51.3% of the national total). The island is followed by Calabria (674 crimes and 35,480 hectares incinerated), Puglia (601 crimes and 3,660 hectares affected) and Campania (553 crimes and 5,564 hectares in flames). (HANDLE).
Source: Ansa
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