Vacation paradise under attack as officials suspect arsonists may be behind inferno

A wildfire broke out along the mountains between Conca dei Marini and Amalfi on the Amalfi Coast.Strong winds fueled the flames, which firefighters and volunteers worked to contain.(Antonio Balasco/ LiveMediaAntonio Balasco/ LiveMedia/ ipa-agency.net/ Sipa USA via Reuters Connect)

While strong winds initially prevented helicopters from taking part in the response,firefighting aircraftjoined the operation by morning.

Italy’s national fire service, Vigili del Fuoco, said on X that emergency crews responded toscrubland firesstretching between Positano, Amalfi, Agerola and Vico Equense along the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento Peninsula.

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A total of seven ground teams and three aircraft were deployed as part of the firefighting operation, according to the Turkish news organization Anadolu Agency.

As a precaution, some restaurants and facilities in key locations were evacuated as concerns grew among tourists staying in the region, the news outlet reported.

Positano’s dramatic cliffside architecture and colorful views are two of the many draws for scores of American tourists.(iStock)

Local leaders warned of severe environmental damage and publicly raisedsuspicions of arson, Italian newspaper Il Mattino said.

Positano Mayor Gabriella Guida confirmed that the fire ravaged the woods of Tordigliano on the border between the Amalfi Coast andthe Sorrento Peninsula, the newspaper reported.

The flames reached much of the state road — which was closed to ensure safe firefighting operations — and descended toward Positano.

It also threatened upper mountain hamlets in the Capo d’Acqua area before Montepertuso, between Positano and Santa Maria del Castello, according to local newspapers.

Sorrento, pictured above, is a popular choice for tourists because it is an easy hub for travel to Pompeii and Capri.(iStock)

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Guida expressed fears that the loss of centuries-old trees would trigger major hydrogeological disruption and landslides once the first rains arrived, Il Mattino reported.

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She said she believes the cause was likely arson, pointing out that fires breaking out simultaneously across Vico Equense, Agerola,Amalfi and Positanoappeared to indicate a coordinated plan, rather than a coincidence, local outlets reported.

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Guida acknowledged the economic toll on the destination, noting that travelers were frightened during what was supposed to be a relaxing vacation. 

She urged anyone with information about the fires to speak up, according to the newspaper.

September is one of the most popular times of year to visit Sorrento, pictured above.The lighter crowds and somewhat cooler weather are both appealing to tourists.(iStock)

Sorrento Mayor Corrado Fattorusso released an official statement expressing solidarity with the administrations and communities of the Sorrento Peninsula and the Amalfi Coast, according to local news outlet Il Sole 24 Ore.

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Describing the fires asan attack on the region’s identity, history and environmental heritage, Fattorusso urged authorities to move from words to action by identifying the culprits and establishing concrete land monitoring and prevention measures.

As of midweek, fire crews were still working to extinguish the remaining hot spots in areas around the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento Peninsula, according to numerous reports.