Wildfires rage across Europe, three firefighters dead in Greece
Reuters photo.
Devastating wildfires have spread across Greece, Spain, France, Turkey, and Portugal. In Greece, three firefighters lost their lives while battling blazes on the island of Crete and in the Peloponnese region. Simultaneously, an intense heatwave across Europe has further complicated the situation.
On the island of Crete, strong gusts of wind caused the fire to spread rapidly, leading to the evacuation of several villages. Two firefighters were trapped in the fire and died in the Rethymno area of western Crete.
Meanwhile, another firefighter who was found unconscious near the port town of Gythio in the southern Peloponnese, later died.
Witnesses reported that fires broke out in multiple locations on Crete and spread quickly. The largest fire stretched approximately 15 kilometers. Residents of the villages and tourists were evacuated to safety.
Elsewhere, wildfires have also spread to the Greek islands of Paros and Lesbos, as well as the Trifylia area on the mainland. In Turkey's Muğla province, the Fethiye–Antalya highway was closed due to the fire, and part of a hospital was evacuated.
Spain is experiencing its fourth heatwave of the summer. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said that the next 12 hours are crucial for bringing the wildfire near Madrid under control. High temperatures, low humidity, and gusty winds raise fears that the fire may spread again.
In the Burgohondo area of Ávila province, west of Madrid, over 43,000 hectares of forest have already been burned. This is considered the largest wildfire in Spain's history. So far this year, a total of more than 207,000 hectares of land have been scorched in the country.
As the fire has been somewhat contained, thousands of residents in the areas of Toledo, Madrid, Ávila, and Castellón have been allowed to return home. However, the fire in the Vall d'Uixó area, northwest of Valencia, remains out of control.
In southwestern France, a major wildfire in the Gironde region is currently under control, but fires have reignited in several locations. With temperatures reaching up to 41°C and dry air, there are concerns about new outbreaks. The country's fire service has taken special measures to protect hazardous industrial facilities used in missile and rocket production.
In Spain's Almería, a woman who was seriously burned in a wildfire earlier this month died in hospital. That fire claimed a total of 14 lives, including citizens from the UK, Belgium, the US, France, and Spain.
Meanwhile, in neighboring Portugal, wildfires are also burning in the Vila Real district in the northeast. Vigilant monitoring is underway to ensure the safety of local water treatment plants and gas depots.
According to experts, global temperatures are rising due to climate change. As Europe is the fastest-warming continent, the intensity of heatwaves and wildfires there is increasingly growing.
Source: BBC
