Fire in Montebello Jonico: Fiamme in a naturalistic area of ​​Saline Joniche

A violent fire is affecting the naturalistic area of ​​Saline Jonician ponds, in the municipality of Montebello Jonico, in the Reggio area. The flames, fed by the strong sirocco wind, have already reached the vegetation surrounding the ponds, especially the reeds and the Mediterranean scrub that crown the “quagmire of salt pans”, an area of ​​extraordinary environmental value that for years has been a point of reference for scholars, birdwatcher and fans of nature, for the numerous species of volatiles that find protection during the spring and autumn migrations, Pink flamingos, eyes, ash herons, swamp hawks and various species of anatids. Numerous teams of firefighters, carabinieri and police are engaged on the spot. Already last year, following a long period of drought, the “quagmire of salt pans” had been devastated by a malicious fire and does not exclude, also this year, that the flames were strictly set in a day characterized by the strong wind.