Apocalypse in Sicily: 48 Hours of Devastation as Wildfires Rage Across the Island

 It has been an apocalypse. The hardest, most dramatic, and hellish 48 hours for Sicily, besieged by flames. From Catania to Messina, Siracusa, and the inferno in Palermo, with three deaths, two of them found charred. The Bellolampo landfill swallowed by fire, and the alarm of dioxin. Homes, churches, and tourist facilities devastated by the flames. The archaeological park of Segesta reduced to ashes. The Zingaro Reserve and San Vito Lo Capo engulfed in fire. Highways closed, cutting across the island. Palermo airport off-limits. The scorching heat reaching 47 degrees Celsius, with several cities without electricity. Thousands forced to leave their homes. Fires in Siracusa, the foothills of Mount Etna, Messina province, near Taormina, and on the Madonie Mountains.

Never before has Sicily faced such a devastating fire emergency.

Hundreds of firefighters, civil protection, forest rangers, and countless volunteers have been tirelessly responding.

THE DEATHS

Two septuagenarians found charred in a house engulfed in flames in Cinisi, near the Falcone Borsellino airport. An 88-year-old woman died in San Martino delle Scale, as the fire prevented the ambulance from reaching her. One person remains unaccounted for in Patti. Two forest rangers hospitalized with severe burns while providing aid. Almost 2,000 evacuated. This is the partial and terrible toll of the fires burning in Sicily for over 24 hours, devastating forests, hilly areas, parks, and inhabited centers in different parts of the island. Fires everywhere, some state roads closed, and villages isolated. In Palermo and neighboring municipalities, the situation is dire: the air is nearly unbreathable, and the sky is covered in smoke and ash. "Do not stay outdoors," warns the ASP, especially to the most vulnerable.

PALERMO

The devastation in Palermo and its province is heart-wrenching. Flames attacked Monte Gallo, above Mondello, on Monday night. Then, the morning came, and the inferno ensued. Throughout the day, several fires broke out in different municipalities around Palermo. In the capital, hundreds of families had to leave their homes. Several houses were engulfed in flames. San Martino delle Scale, Monte Pellegrino, Capo Gallo Reserve, and Pizzo Sella mountain, as well as the coastal villages of Mondello and Sferracavallo, were hit by fires.

Fires in Borgetto, Cinisi, Carini. The Madonie Mountains, Cefalù, and the Palermo-Messina highway.

People were forced to flee their homes along the hilly road leading to the Bellolampo landfill, where an exhausted basin caught fire, raising concerns about dioxin spread. Palermo airport had to temporarily close due to the smoke enveloping the runways, while mountains burned, and, in an endless horror, firefighters discovered two charred bodies. The extensive fire that hit many areas of Palermo and its province since yesterday evening nearly destroyed a BMW car dealership in Isola delle Femmine (Palermo), La Nuova Sport Car. The A29 highway was engulfed in a thick black smoke visible from kilometers away. The blaze was eventually brought under control.

The Palermo-Mazara del Vallo and Palermo-Catania highways were intermittently blocked, leaving hundreds of trapped motorists in their vehicles as the thermometer reached 45°C. It was an immense disaster that shook the city and its people. Many have lost everything, as their homes turned to ashes.

SEGESTA

According to the President of the Region, Renato Schifani, there is a criminal hand behind the fire that devastated the archaeological park of Segesta. Flames surrounded the Greek temple, which had reopened to visitors just a few days ago after 20 years. The extensive fire practically reduced the park area, including the refreshment area, to ashes, including Pispisa, Mango, Contrada Margana, Giacaudo, Conca, and Scorciagatto. The Doric temple was engulfed in flames. The fire allegedly started near the A29 highway, leading to the road's closure for several hours.

In Calatafimi, from 600 to 800 hectares of forests and Mediterranean scrubland went up in smoke. "A true tragedy," said Calatafimi Mayor Francesco Gruppuso. "What we managed to save last year in one night was completely destroyed. We are deeply saddened. I pray and urge anyone who knows anything about this criminal act to come forward and make a detailed report."

SAN VITO

There was much fear in San Vito Lo Capo due to multiple fire fronts that affected areas surrounding the town, the Zingaro Reserve, and Calampiso Residence. Thankfully, there were no casualties, but the damage in San Vito Lo Capo, including Cala ‘mpiso, Salce grande, Salce piccolo, Giardinello, Saffaglione, and the municipal road Mondello, was significant. Besides the vegetation, homes were also burnt down, and the entire area's population, around 400 people, had to be evacuated and accommodated at the municipal theater. The La Pineta camping site was also threatened by the fire and had to be evacuated, but fortunately, the flames did not reach inside the facility. The 28 guests of the Calampiso Residence were evacuated by sea by the Coast Guard. Mayor Francesco La Sala of San Vito issued a desperate plea for aerial support to combat the fires, which have reached the Zingaro Reserve.

PANTELLERIA AND ERICE

A Canadair was deployed to extinguish a fire in the Khamma area on the island of Pantelleria. The flames reignited in the same spot where there had been a fire the previous day, and some houses were affected. The Perimeter Road in the Khamma area was closed. In Erice, a fire hit the San Matteo forest, an area that had already been affected by a fire in the summer of 2021.