Puglia wildfires destroy over 12,000 hectares in Italy

Wildfires in the Puglia region of Italy have destroyed over 12,600 hectares of land, with the Alta Murgia area serving as a major epicenter. The fires have devastated pastures, crops, and natural landscapes, specifically impacting the municipalities of Gravina, Altamura, and Minervino Murge.

Coldiretti Puglia has reported significant economic losses for local agricultural businesses, including the destruction of forage, fencing, and production structures. The organization has criticized current prevention measures as insufficient and is calling for improved territorial monitoring to intercept outbreaks before they become uncontrollable.

To mitigate further hardship, Coldiretti Puglia has requested urgent intervention from Regional Agriculture Councilor Paolicelli. They are seeking exemptions to ensure affected farmers and ranchers can still access EU community aid despite being unable to use their scorched lands, while also requesting permission to continue grazing where safety and environmental conditions allow.