Wildfires Paralyze Sardinia: Air Traffic Disrupted, Roads Closed

Sardinia is grappling with a weekend of intense vegetation fires that have paralyzed parts of the island. The blazes have prompted a large-scale response from emergency services, involving dozens of forest corps teams, helicopters, and Canadair aircraft.

Fires have broken out in various locations, including the rural area of Escalaplano, near Cabras, and Uras, where multiple aerial units were deployed. In Olbia, a significant fire in the Padrongiano area necessitated the closure of a segment of the SS125 state road and led to the diversion of flights from Costa Smeralda Airport to Cagliari and Alghero.

The fires have also caused major disruptions to ground transportation. The SS197 state road was temporarily closed between San Gavino Monreale and Gonnosfanadiga. Most critically, the SS131 highway, a major artery, was completely blocked in both directions between Marrubiu and Terralba for approximately two hours, causing extensive traffic jams. While circulation has since resumed, the fires continue to demand extensive resources and attention across the island.