Wildfire Threatens Amalfi Coast, Officials Suspect Arson

A wildfire raged along Italy’s famed Amalfi Coast, prompting precautionary evacuations and raising concerns among tourists as emergency crews battled the blaze. The fire, which broke out Monday evening in scrubland near Amalfi, affected areas surrounding Cus Pogerola, Positano, Amalfi, and Tovere di Amalfi, as well as nearby coastal zones.

Firefighters deployed aerial and ground operations to combat the flames, working through the night to prevent them from reaching residential areas. No injuries or damage to homes have been reported. Strong winds initially hampered the use of helicopters, but firefighting aircraft joined the response by morning. Italy's national fire service reported multiple scrubland fires stretching across the coast and the Sorrento Peninsula.

Precautionary evacuations included some restaurants and facilities in key locations, as concerns grew among visitors. Local leaders expressed fears of severe environmental damage, with some openly suspecting arson. Positano Mayor Gabriella Guida stated that the fire ravaged the woods of Tordigliano, on the border between the Amalfi Coast and the Sorrento Peninsula. She noted that fires erupting simultaneously across multiple locations suggested a coordinated plan rather than a coincidence.

The flames impacted the state road, which was closed for firefighting operations, and descended towards Positano. The fire also threatened upper mountain hamlets before reaching Montepertuso, located between Positano and Santa Maria del Castello. Guida warned that the loss of centuries-old trees could lead to significant hydrogeological disruption and landslides.

Sorrento Mayor Corrado Fattorusso issued a statement of solidarity, describing the fires as an "attack on the region's identity, history and environmental heritage." He urged authorities to identify those responsible and implement concrete land monitoring and prevention measures.

Fire crews continued working to extinguish remaining hot spots in the affected areas as of mid-week, with officials calling for greater vigilance and action to prevent future incidents. The incident highlighted the vulnerability of popular tourist destinations to environmental threats and potential criminal activity.