Sardinia: flames near the Villasimius beach. Bathers flee

The fire emergency does not cease. And in Sardinia, the flames reach as far as the beach, destroying vegetation and cars and driving tourists and bathers away, even by sea. The worst hit area, on a day that records 26 fires across the island, is the Sarrabus area, where flames broke out between Castiadas and Villasimius.

First a column of smoke, then the rest, with the fire reaching as far as Punta Molentis, a bathing area that is particularly popular during the summer, and considered a sort of earthly paradise because of the Mediterranean maquis that reaches as far as the beach. The alarm went off from the beach, with bathers trying to escape in fear and panic. The flames not only reached the vicinity of the beach, but also devastated cars parked along the road and those that were left silting up in an attempt to leave the area..

According to an initial estimate by the fire brigade, which intervened with three teams (San Vito and Castiadas), the vehicles affected by the devastation would be 200. "To cope with the emergency," it was reiterated in the course of the afternoon, "specialists from the nautical nucleus with motorboats and divers with rubber dinghies have also been sent to the scene, ready to carry out evacuations by sea if necessary. A fire brigade helicopter was also in the air to ensure possible evacuations and support operations from above.

A number of bathers were rescued by sea thanks to the intervention of the harbour master's office and also by boats made available by private individuals. Two Canadairs of the national air fleet of the Fire Brigade are also operating at the scene of the fire, in coordination with the resources deployed by the Region. In addition to the ground personnel, made up of forestry, fire-fighting and civil protection officers, an Air Force vehicle is also trying to tame the flames.

Stefano Deliperi, president of the Legal Intervention Group, an environmental association that has been committed to defending the environment for years, speaks of a 'devastating criminal fire'. Because 'Punta Molentis no longer exists'. "When it is understood once and for all that these are crimes to be made to pay with at least twenty years in jail, it will be a good day," he says, "and right from the start the environmental daspo, a useful proposal to fight fires and attacks on the environment. The environmentalist continues: "And let us all always remember to do our part when we see even just a flame or a wisp of smoke: the 1515 toll-free number," he adds. "The rapid communication of information and intervention helps to save forests, pastures, coastlines and human lives threatened by fires, let us never forget this.