An "apocalyptic" wildfire on the slopes of Mt Vesuvius may have been started deliberately, the Italian authorities have said. More than 150 firefighters have been working around the clock since Friday to control the flames, which reached 3,000m (9,843ft) up the mountainside, and could be seen from the city of Naples, 12 miles away. Gioacchino Madonna, the mayor of Massa di Somma who heads a network of mayors in the Vesuvius area, said: "Arson or incompetence are certainly at the forefront of the theories about the cause." "Authorities will have to determine any responsibilities, including through the video surveillance system in place in the park," he added. Credit: Reuters / Santolo Eliano Investigators are expected to examine CCTV footage and other evidence once the fire is brought under control. As volunteer civil protection teams raced from across Italy to help fight the inferno, Francesco Ranieri, mayor of Terzigno, a town close to the mountain, said: "What we are seeing right now is apocalyptic." More than 12 firefighting units are on the ground, including reinforcements sent from Tuscany and the Marche region in central Italy, the fire service said. Hundreds of local residents slept outdoors on Saturday night, but no deaths or injuries have so far been reported. Mr Ranieri said winds had pushed the fire up the slopes of the volcano. Despite concern about residential areas, there have not yet been any evacuations. Raffaele De Luca, president of Vesuvius National Park, said: "We are very worried about the evolving situation and our thoughts to go to safeguarding the natural heritage and the security of those who live and work around the volcano." The blaze has destroyed more than 500 hectares (1,235 acres) of woodland, with devastating consequences for farmland, forests and biodiversity. Hiking trails have been closed to tourists and there are fears for residents in towns including Ottaviano and San Giuseppe Vesuviano. Sebastiano Musumeci, Italy's civil protection minister, passed a decree late on Saturday authorising the mobilisation of 23 teams of civil protection volunteers from across the country. About 100 volunteers joined firefighters on Sunday. The civil protection service also requested the army be deployed to guarantee road access and adequate water supplies. Six aircraft and four regional helicopters have been brought in to assist firefighting efforts in an attempt to control a widening front that is stretching for nearly two miles around Vesuvius National Park and between the towns of Terzigno and Boscoreale. Credit: Lucio Cacace / Reuters In 2017, a fire, believed to have been deliberately lit, swept through Vesuvius National Park, causing widespread damage to the forested area around the mountain and triggering a severe national drought. "We are reliving the very sad memories of 2017," said Mr Ranieri. "We have to once again have the strength to lift ourselves up and rejuvenate an area which is very beautiful because I believe criminal interests are looking to eliminate it unfortunately." Legambiente, the national environmental organisation, on Sunday released national figures stating 56,000 hectares or nearly 140,000 acres had been destroyed in fires across Italy from January to the end of July this year. In southern France, firefighters have contained amassive wildfirethat has caused widespread damage, but local officials are concerned that scorching heat and dry conditions could reignite the blaze as a new heat wave sweeps across the Mediterranean region. The fire swept through the southern Aude department at the peak of the summer tourist season, killing one person and injuring several others. The fire is still burning within a 16,000-hectare area, said Christophe Magny on Saturday, chief of the region's firefighter unit. The blaze would not be completely extinguished for several weeks, he said. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
