Wildfire rages across Pollino national park
(ANSA) - Rome, July 17 - Firefighters on Tuesday were battling a huge wildfire sweeping across the Pollino national park that straddles the borders of Calabria and Basilicata in southern Italy. The blaze is believed to have been started deliberately early Monday afternoon and by Tuesday morning its front reportedly stretched over a kilometre from Monte Canino to Conca del Re, with the flames heading towards Dolcedorme.
Here the famous Loricate pines risked "going up in smoke", park president Domenico Pappaterra said, warning of a fire of "huge" proportions.
The park chief spoke of a "360-degree attack, with numerous hotbeds and primers organised scientifically, in addition to a favourable wind".
The park was badly damaged by fire in 2007.
Arsonists are blamed in most cases of forest fires in Italy, and suspicion usually focuses on farmers seeking to clear space for agricultural purposes or land developers hoping to win permits for new constructions.
The park chief spoke of a "360-degree attack, with numerous hotbeds and primers organised scientifically, in addition to a favourable wind".
The park was badly damaged by fire in 2007.
Arsonists are blamed in most cases of forest fires in Italy, and suspicion usually focuses on farmers seeking to clear space for agricultural purposes or land developers hoping to win permits for new constructions.