Europe wildfires continue to spread across several countries as another intense heatwave raises the risk of dangerous fires. Greece, Spain, Italy, France and Albania are battling blazes amid dry conditions, strong winds and prolonged drought.
The latest fires have forced evacuations, destroyed homes and placed thousands of firefighters and emergency workers on alert. Meanwhile, forecasts show that extreme heat could continue across much of the continent.
Greece Contains Wildfire Near Athens
In Greece, firefighters brought a new blaze near Athens under control after it broke out Monday in the village of Kouvaras.
The village lies about 60 kilometres southeast of Athens. Almost 200 firefighters responded to the fire as crews worked to prevent the flames from spreading.
However, authorities continue to warn about the risk of new Europe wildfires. Large areas of central and southern Greece remain at high risk, including the greater Athens region and many Aegean islands.
Five people have died in wildfires across Greece in recent weeks. The victims include four firefighters and the pilot of a water-dropping helicopter.
Another major blaze west of Athens recently destroyed dozens of homes in the seaside resort of Porto Germeno. The fire also damaged one of the remaining large green areas near the Greek capital.
Spain Evacuates Around 800 People
Meanwhile, firefighters in Spain are battling three major wildfires in the southern part of the country.
The fires have forced around 800 people to leave their homes. Shifting winds and difficult terrain have made the firefighting operation particularly challenging.
More than 600 firefighters are working alongside 26 water-dropping aircraft to contain a blaze in Huelva’s Andalusian province.
Andalusian emergency officials warned that crews could face several more days of difficult work.
Authorities also ordered the evacuation of El Madrono, a municipality with around 300 residents. The move increased the total number of evacuees to approximately 800.
Firefighters are also dealing with blazes in Castellón and Segovia. Officials have classified all three fires at severity level two.
Italy Faces Extreme Wildfire Risk
Italy is also experiencing severe fire conditions as an intense heatwave moves across the country.
Authorities have placed 19 cities under red alerts. The North African anticyclone has brought extremely hot and dry conditions, increasing the danger of new fires.
According to environmental association Legambiente, fires have already burned 80,325 hectares across Italy this year. That figure has surpassed an earlier estimate of 70,000 hectares for the end of July.
Sicily, Calabria and Puglia have suffered the greatest damage. Together, the three regions account for about 73% of Italy’s burned area.
Northern Italy is also facing problems. Lombardy has several active fires, with at least seven fronts still burning from Sondrio to the Brescia area.
Hundreds of firefighters and volunteers continue to work to contain the flames.
France Raises Forest Fire Alerts
France has also increased its wildfire warnings as the heatwave continues.
Authorities placed 42 departments under a high forest-fire risk on Tuesday. That number rose sharply from 17 departments the previous day.
Recent fires have already caused major damage in Gironde and Var. Firefighters have now turned their attention to the Drôme region, where one blaze continued its slow advance overnight.
Dry conditions and high temperatures are making containment more difficult.
Albania Battles Massive Forest Fire
In Albania, firefighters, helicopters and army personnel worked overnight to control a major wildfire on Mount Kruja.
Authorities evacuated residents from several nearby villages as the flames spread.
Police also detained a man suspected of accidentally starting the fire.
The incident highlights the growing wildfire threat across southeastern Europe, where hot and dry conditions are creating dangerous conditions for forest fires.
Europe Braces for Another Heatwave
The latest wave of Europe wildfires comes as much of the continent prepares for another period of extreme heat.
Months of drought have pushed rivers to historically low levels in some areas. At the same time, unusually high temperatures have dried vegetation and increased the risk of fast-moving fires.
Britain and France were already under extreme heat warnings on Monday, with temperatures forecast to reach the mid-30s Celsius.
Moreover, unusually high temperatures are expected in countries that are less accustomed to prolonged extreme heat, including Switzerland, Austria and Hungary.
With dry vegetation, strong winds and rising temperatures continuing across the continent, emergency services remain on high alert as Europe faces another challenging wildfire season.
