Mount Vesuvius Engulfed: Wildfires Force Closures as Southern Europe Battles Blazes
Mount Vesuvius Engulfed: Wildfires Force Closures as Southern Europe Battles Blazes
Italian authorities are battling a significant wildfire raging on the flanks of Mount Vesuvius, near Naples, which has forced the closure of all hiking routes up the iconic volcano. The blaze, which ignited on Friday, August 8, has torn through the Vesuvius National Park, prompting a massive response from firefighters and the army.
As of Sunday, August 10, 12 fire teams and six Canadair planes were deployed to combat the flames, primarily concentrated on the densely vegetated Mount Somma side of Vesuvius. Reinforcements have been brought in from across Italy, with drones providing crucial real-time monitoring of the fire’s spread. While smoke from the inferno is visible from the ancient city of Pompeii, the archaeological site remains open to visitors.
The fire has already devastated approximately 500 hectares (over 1,235 acres) of the park. Park officials confirmed on Saturday that all activities on the Vesuvius National Park trail network are suspended indefinitely for safety and operational reasons.
This crisis at Vesuvius is part of a broader wave of intense wildfires sweeping across Southern Europe, exacerbated by scorching temperatures and strong winds. In Spain, over 1,000 people were evacuated on Sunday due to spreading blazes, while Greece reported a fatality and widespread destruction from a massive wildfire that erupted on Friday. Last week, France also grappled with one of its largest wildfires in decades. Experts attribute the increasing vulnerability to intensifying summer heatwaves, linked to global warming, with June 2025 recording historic temperatures.
The impact on local agriculture around Vesuvius is significant, with vineyards and farms, renowned for their wine, apricots, and tomatoes, suffering ‘enormous disaster’ according to Coldiretti, Italy’s biggest agricultural association. Local prosecutors have launched an investigation into the origin of the fires, as firefighting efforts remain challenging due to the severe weather conditions and flammable vegetation.
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