Southern Europe Fires Spreading
Wildfires still spreading across France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Turkey
As temperatures reach the mid-forties Celsius (113ºF) in some Mediterranean areas and rising more devastation across the region is expected.
A fire near Nuoro in the center of Sardinia Island. Photo: GETTY. Image may be subject to copyright.
Thousands of hectares of woodland in France, Greece, Italy (Sardinia), Spain and Turkey have been destroyed by wildfires fulled by dry conditions, high temperatures and strong winds rage on.
At least 8 people have been killed by the fires including six firefighters in Spain were two major fires were still burning, reports said.
Source EFFIS via BBC. Image may be subject to copyright.
Summary of Fire Damage
- Thousands of hectares of bush, woodland and forest have been destroyed in Spain.
- At least 10 villages were left without water and electricity in Spain’s southern province of Almeria.
- As many as 30,000 hectares of bush and woodland have been consumed in Spain.
- Thousands of people including tourists were evacuated from central Greece and southern Italy as firefighters tried to contain fierce blazes.
- A major fire is consuming a large tract of forest and bush in the French island of Corsica.
- As temperatures in southern Europe continue to rise even higher new outbreaks of wildfire are expected.
- In Greece’s southern Peloponnese and the island of Evia at least 350 fires were reported, destroying thousands of acres of bushes, forests and farmlands.
- In Turkey, hundreds firefighters worked through the night to control fires in the resort village of Bodrum.
The fire erupted Wednesday after personnel from the French Military Intelligence used tracer rounds. Photo: AFP. Image may be subject to copyright.
French army rapped over blaze as Europe battles fires
The French army faced mounting flak Friday after a military exercise sparked a sweeping wildfire on the outskirts of Marseille, as firefighters battled blazes across southern Europe.
The French army faced mounting flak Friday after a military exercise sparked a sweeping wildfire on the outskirts of Marseille, as firefighters battled blazes across southern Europe.
“This fire was clearly triggered by a professional mistake,” Prime Minister Francois Fillon said late Thursday after the blaze ripped through 1,300 hectares (3,211 acres) of brush and damaged homes near France’s second city. AFP reported.
Fire Earth 