US EditionHeatwave Bakes Europe; Thousands Battle Greece Fires
Greece deployed nearly 5,000 firefighters and requested EU water bombers as over 20 wildfires forced thousands of evacuations amid unprecedented heat and drought conditions.
- More than 20 wildfires engulfed Greece on Wednesday, including one threatening Patras, as a heatwave stoked blazes and AFP journalists observed firefighting efforts.
- Amid a severe heatwave, Nikos Gyftakis said it’s 'a cocktail of high temperatures, strong winds& and minimal humidity,' with parts of western Greece forecast to near 40C on Wednesday.
- Authorities mobilised 4,850 firefighters and 33 planes since dawn Wednesday, evacuating around 20 villages in western Achaia and rescuing nearly 80 people from Chios and Patras.
- The national ambulance service reported 52 hospitalisations, including a small number of firefighters, for respiratory problems and minor burns after almost 6,000 evacuations from 26 localities.
- After requesting four water bombers from the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, Syriza criticised the government’s fire preparedness, with the mechanism activated 16 times this year.
27 Articles
27 Articles
Heatwave bakes Europe; Thousands battle Greece fires
PATRAS, Greece — Greece battled a dozen major wildfires on Wednesday, including one threatening its third-largest city Patras, as a heatwave stoked blazes and forced the evacuation of thousands in southern Europe. Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, the Balkans and Britain have this week wilted in high temperatures that fuel wildfires and which scientists say human-induced climate change is intensifying. Greece Thousands of firefighters backed by th…
Wildfires rage across Greece and southern Europe amid intense heatwave
PATRAS (Greece), Aug 14 — Greece battled a dozen major wildfires on Wednesday, including one threatening its third-largest city Patras, as a heatwave stoked blazes and forced the evacuation of thousands in southern Europe.Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, the Balkans and Britain have this week wilted in high temperatures that fuel wildfires and which scientists say human-induced climate change is intensifying.GreeceThousands of firefighters backed…
The countries of southern Europe are still grappling with severe fires. Tens of thousands of hectares have been ravaged in recent days on the continent.
In Greece firefighters fight violent forest fires. Strong winds make extinguishing work difficult. Athens asks the EU for help.
Greece has requested EU support for the outbreak of new forest fires.
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