Bono, Italy grapples with forest fire devastation and contaminated water after heavy rains

On 2 August 2026 a large fire of suspected arson swept through the Monte Rasu forest near the town of Bono in Sardinia, Italy. The blaze required the deployment of seven aerial firefighting units and the coordinated effort of the Corpo Forestale, the Vigili del Fuoco, the Carabinieri and civil‑protection teams. Mayor Michele Solina thanked the responders, describing the day as “a day of terror and horror” for the community.

The following day a violent storm dumped about 60 mm of rain in just over an hour, turning ash into black mud that flooded roads and entered the town’s water system. The ash seeped into the reservoirs that feed local water pipes, making the water turbid and giving it a noticeable ash odor. Solina announced that technicians were working to empty and clean the affected tanks and urged residents in the Santa Caterina and Uschi zones not to use tap water for drinking or cooking until it is fully cleared.