A total of four aerial surveys have been carried out by the Italian Coastguard under the cooperation agreement between the Regional Administration for Environment of Regione Campania and the Corps of the Harbour Masters and Coastguard.

The missions were carried out in the following areas:

1. The Domitian-Phlegrean Coast (Municipality of Castel Volturno) and the internal local areas corresponding to the eastern part of Lago di Patria (Municipalities of Giugliano and Villa Literno) and the northern area of Vulcano Solfatara (Municipality of Pozzuoli).

The survey reported 28 irregularities in bodies of water and soil, on which more checks and examinations are being carried out, and some critical targets, that are been classified for the necessary soil assessments. A top priority has been given to the northern area of Lago Patria where both thermal and magnetic irregularities have been found.

Recent direct analysis in this site concerning sampling of water and soil did not show any hazard for human health but environmental degradation of bodies of water due to the spill of livestock manure.  

2. Solofrana, where thermal sensing has shown a dozen of irregularities in water, currently under examination by the Harbour Masters of Castellammare di Stabia.

3. The area among the Municipalities of Casal di Principe, Villa di Briano, Borgo San Lorenzo, San Cipriano d’Aversa, Villa Literno and neighbouring zones, where thermal irregularities have been found and are currently being examined and will be classified according to soil checks.

4. The Sarno river system where a multispectral survey of the river, urban and farming areas adjacent to the banks has been carried out.

More aerial missions are being planned for the remote sensing of the main rivers (Cavaiola, Calore beneventano, Volturno, just to name a few) and to increase the knowledge to support the emergency issues of the Land of Fires and to implement targeted local actions where findings or potential critical environmental conditions have been proven due to abandonment, burial or disposal of waste.

Over the next few days, the survey will involve first the following local units:

·         River segments of the main basins (Volturno and Regi Lagni, Sarno and tributary rivers, Sele and the main farming drainage channels, etc.)

·         Coast of the Gulf of Gaeta;

·         Coast of the Gulf of Pozzuoli;

·         Coast of the Gulf of Naples;

·         Coast of the Gulf of Salerno;

·         Coast of the Gulf of Sapri.

Regional Minister of Environment of Regione Campania Giovanni Romano stated:“ The activity of the Executive Board to protect our environment and ecosystem carries on.”

Mr Romano concluded: “Our cooperation with the Corps of Harbour Masters is giving out remarkable outcomes that will allow a comprehensive mapping of existing local criticalities and to start the necessary remediation activities for polluted areas”.