Roghi, ancora emergenza in Sicilia: una vittima, danni oltre i 700 milioni

In Sicilia, the ongoing emergency continues as the new wave of wildfires takes its toll. Salvatore Giglia, a 26-year-old man, lost his life on the morning of September 26 while trying to extinguish flames near his home in Ciminna, Palermo. Earlier, the fire had claimed its first victim in Taormina, spreading from a retirement home area in Contrada Sant'Antonio to Zappulla and Tirone, threatening nearby properties and prompting the evacuation of some houses.

The flames also reached the first paramassie tunnel on via Garipoli, a major access route to the city from the A18 highway.

Firefighters, forest rangers, and civil protection forces, supported by Canadian Canadair and helicopters, battled the inferno. The community water reservoir in Tirone was severely damaged. The mayor of Palermo, Ceno De Luca, announced that the situation was under control in the afternoon, describing it as "tragic." The origin of the fire remains under investigation, with the mayor speculating it may have been deliberate.

Since July and the first half of August, 8,113 fires were reported in Sicily, averaging around 135 per day. Between Friday and Monday, the fire department conducted over 800 interventions, and the weekend saw 198 fires reported. The region's emergency cost reached approximately 629 million euros, including about 50 million for building, productive, and infrastructure damages, 159 million for agricultural enterprises, 263 million for wooded areas, natural habitats, and vegetation, and 157 million for reforestation and safety measures.

Around 25,000 hectares had been affected by the fires. This situation has continued, with recent days seeing fires hit companies, farmlands, homes, and infrastructure again. The projected damage is now estimated at around 700 million euros, but this figure will be confirmed by the regional government. The regional government had already allocated 25 million euros in late July, with 15 million for civil protection interventions and 10 million for agricultural business relief.

The emergency is not exclusive to Sicily, as a fire in Sardinia between August 28 and 29 consumed about 300 hectares in Arzana and Elini, Ogliastra, prompting another Canadair and helicopter intervention. Another front opened in Giave's countryside in Sardinia, near a photovoltaic field, where the regional forest corps intervened with a helicopter from Anela.