The fire shows no sign of letting up on Mount Morrone. The wildfires in Abruzzo as seen through thermal imaging cameras

The heat and wind continue to fuel the wildfires that have been ravaging Abruzzo for days. The most critical front remains that of Mount Morrone, where the Army’s Engineering Corps has joined the teams already on the ground, bringing specialist equipment to clear paths through the most inaccessible areas and create firebreaks.

The fire broke out on 9 August and has since spread from Roccacasale towards Corfinio and Popoli Terme, fuelled by high temperatures. On 12 August, the flames had returned to the area between the Santacroce farmhouse and Beato Mariano, threatening woodland and beech forests: the severity of the situation had led the authorities to request the intervention of the 9th Alpine Regiment. On 16 August, a thick column of black smoke loomed over the Peligna Valley, whilst two state-owned aircraft remained grounded due to technical faults, forcing the authorities to rely solely on the regional fleet. On the same day, ANAS ordered the closure of a section of the SS 17 (Abruzzese Apennines) in Corfinio and a section of the Tiburtina Valeria.

Yesterday, at the municipal operations centre in Popoli Terme, a summit was held chaired by the President of the Region, Marco Marsilio, alongside the President of the Maiella National Park, Lucio Zazzara, and senior officials from the Civil Protection Agency, the fire service, the Carabinieri and the Army: discussions centred on the rugged terrain of the mountains and the strong winds affecting the Tremonti Gorge, as well as the relentless drought. 

Aerial operations are continuing: four Canadair aircraft, one Erickson and two regional helicopters, with a further three Canadair aircraft due to join them to bolster the response. Minor fires are still burning in Rocca di Cambio and Bisegna, in the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park.