Summer wildfires burn 70,000 hectares across Italy

Wildfires have burned an estimated 70,000 hectares across Italy this summer, according to a report from The Local Italy, as the country endures one of its most intense heatwaves on record. The figure underscores the scale of the environmental crisis facing the nation, with blazes reported from the Alps to Sicily.

The fires have placed significant strain on Italy's civil protection services, which are also grappling with the effects of the ongoing heatwave. All 27 major cities have been placed under red alert, and emergency services are stretched thin as they battle multiple fronts simultaneously.

Calabria, with its vast tracts of forest and rugged terrain, is among the regions most exposed to wildfire risk. The summer months have brought a series of blazes to the region, threatening rural communities and agricultural land. The local economy, heavily dependent on farming and tourism, is particularly vulnerable to the destruction.