Firefighters across Southern Europe continue to battle numerous wildfires. The ongoing heatwave claims more lives and forces thousands to evacuate. In Greece, emergency crews describe scenes that look like “the end of the world.” Since Tuesday, dozens of people required hospital treatment for smoke inhalation. Strong winds and temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius repeatedly fuel the flames.
Greece Battles Fires on Multiple Fronts
In Greece, firefighters fight new blazes near the western port city of Patras and on the islands of Chios and Zakynthos. Authorities evacuated thousands of residents and tourists. “It looks like the end of the world,” said a firefighter working near Patras. Several crew members suffered burns or other injuries. Greece also supports Albania in tackling dozens of fires. An 80-year-old man died south of the Albanian capital, Tirana. Authorities evacuated residents from four villages in central Albania.
Seven Regions in Spain Affected
In Spain, a 35-year-old volunteer firefighter died during operations, after another man was killed in a blaze on Monday. Spain struggles with a series of devastating fires that claimed two lives and destroyed thousands of hectares of forest. Authorities report 14 large active fires. Some may involve arson, and investigations are underway, according to Minister for Ecological Change, Sara Aagesen. Seven of Spain’s 17 autonomous regions are affected. In the northwest, in Ourense province, six fires burn across 10,000 hectares. The weather service warns of extreme fire danger today. About 6,000 people spent the night outside their homes.
Number of Fires Rises Significantly
Minister Aagesen said the total area burned is smaller than in previous years, but the number of fires is far higher. The unusually long heatwave complicates firefighting and will last until next Monday. The interior ministry raised the national emergency plan to alert level 1 to boost coordination and resources. Authorities may escalate to phase 2, mobilizing additional state support.
Fires Rage in Portugal and Turkey
In Portugal, wildfires keep authorities busy. More than 1,500 firefighters combat the six largest blazes on the mainland. The worst-hit area is Trancoso, about 150 kilometers southwest of Porto, near the Spanish border, where over 500 personnel are deployed. In southern Turkey, a worker died responding to a wildfire in an accident with a fire truck. Four others were injured. Since late June, Turkish firefighters have fought severe fires that have already killed 18 people.
