Raging Wildfires Result in Fatalities and Mass Evacuations Across Southern Europe
Southern Europe is in a state of emergency as wildfires rage on, claiming lives and forcing thousands of individuals to vacate their homes. The fires have escalated, particularly threatening Greece's third-largest city and resulting in fatalities in Spain, Turkey, and Albania.
The Struggle in Greece
In the port city of Patras in Greece, the firefighting crew is racing against time to safeguard homes and farmlands. The blaze has decimated pine forests and olive groves, with towering fire columns visible behind city outskirts. Numerous vehicles have also been destroyed as the fire engulfed a nearby lot.
The Fire Service spokesperson stated, "The fire risk continues to be extremely high across numerous regions in the country". A number of firefighters have required medical support due to burns, smoke inhalation or sheer exhaustion.
Local residents have also joined the fight against the blaze, using cut branches to ward off flames or pouring buckets of water on them. This is a bid to contain the fire as firefighting aircrafts fly overhead, dropping water on the blaze.
Aftermath of Heatwaves: Resources Run Thin
The relentless heatwaves and extreme temperatures across the Mediterranean region have led to numerous fire outbreaks. This has stretched firefighting resources thin in the affected countries. Exhausted firefighters on the Greek island of Chios were seen sleeping on the roadside after an all-night shift.
Firefighting aircrafts are being deployed between the western Greek mainland, the Patras area, and the island of Zakynthos. Assistance has also been dispatched to Albania, as part of an international effort to combat the multitude of wildfires. Tragically, one elderly man lost his life in a fire south of the capital, Tirana.
Evacuations and Fatalities in Spain and Turkey
Spain's Prime Minister expressed deep sorrow following the death of a firefighting volunteer in the Castile and León region, north of Madrid. Thousands have been displaced due to necessary evacuations in this region. He highlighted the grave nature of the wildfire situation and the importance of taking extra precautions.
Evacuation centers in parts of central Spain are at full capacity, with some individuals resorting to sleeping outdoors on folding beds. The most severe fires have pushed into more rural areas, where some locals have attempted to protect their homes by dousing their walls with water.
Meanwhile, in Turkey, a forestry worker lost his life while combating a wildfire in a southern region. The Forestry Ministry reported that the worker died in a fire truck accident, which also injured four others. Turkey has been grappling with severe wildfires since late June, with the death toll now standing at 18, including 10 rescue volunteers and forestry workers.
Possible Causes of the Wildfires
Authorities across European countries have attributed the wildfires to various causes, including negligent farming practices, poorly maintained power cables and summer lightning storms. Arson, possibly instigated by unscrupulous developers, has also been suggested by law enforcement officials in North Macedonia.
The European Union has quickly dispatched aid to the affected countries, with ground crews and water-dropping aircraft. Much of the recent effort has been focused on Montenegro, where major wildfires continue to burn near the capital, Podgorica. The head of Montenegro’s civil protection agency stated, "Natural disasters know no borders". He added that the resources currently available in Montenegro are insufficient to tackle the disaster.