• Wildfires on Mount Vesuvius have led to the closure of all hiking routes.
• Firefighting efforts involve 12 ground teams and six planes.
• The affected area spans approximately 500 hectares.
• Smoke from the fire is visible from nearby Pompeii, which remains open.
• The fires pose a significant threat to local agriculture in the region.

Italian firefighters and the army have been battling a wildfire on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius since Friday, resulting in the closure of all hiking routes. The national fire service reported deploying 12 teams and six Canadair planes to combat the flames, with efforts concentrated around the park that hosts the site of the ancient city of Pompeii, buried in 79 A.D. due to a volcanic eruption. Firefighting operations are ongoing on multiple fronts to contain the blaze, according to Le Monde, CBS News, and Bangkok Post.

The Italian army has also been involved, creating fire breaks while reinforcement firefighters are brought in from other regions. Drones are being used to monitor the spread of the fire, as authorities reported that approximately 500 hectares have been affected. The smoke from the flames can be seen from the archaeological site of Pompeii, which, despite the conditions, remains open for visitors, according to Le Monde, CBS News, and Bangkok Post.

Experts attribute the increased frequency of such wildfires in Europe to climate change, which intensifies summer heatwaves. Italo Giulivo, head of the region's civil protection department, mentioned that the firefighting efforts are complicated by "high temperatures and wind," as well as the flammable pine needles in the area. Additionally, Italy's largest agricultural association, Coldiretti, has labeled the fires as "an enormous disaster" for local vineyards and farms, a sentiment echoed by experts observing weather patterns across the continent, according to CBS News and Bangkok Post.

The local prosecutors' office has initiated an investigation into the cause of the fires, reflecting growing concerns about fire safety and environmental management in the region, as noted by Le Monde, CBS News, and Bangkok Post.