Wildfires kill three firefighters in Greece as France, Spain battle blazes amid extreme heat
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9 days · 11 summary articles
France, Spain, and Greece are battling severe wildfires, with thousands of people evacuated and firefighters struggling to contain the blazes amid extreme heat and drought conditions.
In Greece, wildfires have forced the evacuation of villages on the island of Paros and have resulted in the deaths of three firefighters on Crete and mainland Greece. More than 220 firefighters, along with specialized forest units and fire engines, have been deployed to tackle the inferno on Crete, which has been exacerbated by gale-force winds, droughts, and heat.
France is also facing unprecedented wildfires, with the area burned already 40% larger than the previous record year. President Emmanuel Macron has described this season's wildfires as the worst disaster to face the country since the Second World War. French authorities have provided more than 1.5 million face masks as air quality deteriorates and smoke spreads.
In Spain, fires in eastern Castellon have burned more than 10,000 hectares, and at least six regions have been placed on orange alert, the second-highest level in the country's weather alert system. Spain has downgraded the emergency level for a major fire on the border between Madrid and Castilla y Leon but warns that the danger has not passed as new threats emerge.
The increased frequency and intensity of wildfires in Southern Europe are being linked to climate change. A study published in the journal Scientific Reports indicates that the number of days with extreme wildfire risk in Southern Europe has more than doubled since 1981. French Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Éléonore Caroit has called for collective global action on climate change, emphasizing the need for international cooperation to address the longer-term structural challenges posed by climate change.
The wildfires have also had a significant impact on local communities and economies. In Greece, thousands of tourists have been evacuated from Crete as wildfires threaten tourist resorts. In France, wildfires have threatened defense and aerospace factories, leading to the shutdown of facilities by companies like Airbus, Thales, and MBDA.
Governments and organizations are responding to the crisis with various measures. In France, more than 1.5 million face masks have been provided to address deteriorating air quality. In Spain, authorities have brought one blaze under control but remain on alert for new flare-ups as intense heat, dry vegetation, and powerful winds continue to pose threats.
Waldbrandexperte Johann Goldammer has warned that the fire intensity is bringing emergency services to the limit of their capabilities.
In Crete, more than 220 firefighters have been deployed, as well as 11 specialized forest units on foot and 53 fire engines, along with volunteers to tackle the inferno.
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Articles
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