Canneto
Canneto: an introduction
Canneto is a hamlet in the city of Caronia, Sicily, with a population of approximately 180 inhabitants. Located along the Tyrrhenian Sea, it extends between Marina di Caronia and Santo Stefano di Camastra and is located along the Strada statale 113 Settentrionale Sicula Messina-Palermo-Trapani. This area is also crossed by the Palermo-Messina Railway and the A20 Motorway.
The mysterious fire incidents
Canneto was thrust into the media spotlight from 2003 to 2004, when a series of strange and mysterious incidents occurred. Some apparently unexplainable fires took place in local homes and businesses. What sparked public interest was the circumstances in which these fires occurred: without any source of ignition and only in specific circumstances.
Bizarre hypotheses
These seemingly inexplicable incidents led to many theories about the origin of the phenomenon. Some media reports advanced theories about poltergeists or UFOs, while others suggested that electromagnetic activity from the sea could be responsible for the fires. One possible explanation was energy dispersion from the nearby electrified railway.
The Interinstitutional Group for the Observation of Phenomena
Following these incidents, on May 10, 2005, an Interinstitutional Group for the Observation of Phenomena was established by emergency order of the Civil Protection Agency No 3428. The group aimed to collaborate with the Italian State and the Sicilian Region to find an explanation for these events. The group concluded that Canneto di Caronia was hit by electromagnetic phenomena.
The CICAP investigation
Massimo Polidoro and Marco Morocutti, representatives of the CICAP association, were tasked with investigating the issue. Their investigation ruled out the plausibility of many of the theories put forward by the Civil Protection Agency.
Conclusion of the case and notification of guarantee
On June 24, 2008, the Mistretta prosecutor's office closed the case, stating that the fires were caused by "free flames" and "human hand". However, on October 20, 2014, the Patti Prosecutor's Office notified a 25-year-old local resident with charges of causing the fires, intending to make them appear inexplicable and obtain compensation.
Conclusion of the case
After years of speculation and conspiracy theories, it seems that the Canneto di Caronia case has finally been resolved. Although the true motivation behind these incidents may have remained unknown, it appears that the fires were caused by human intervention. However, this case attracted public interest for many years and made Canneto a household name worldwide.
