Fire in Peloponnese, Greece Photo: Menelaos Michalatos / AFP / Profimedia
The most affected European country is Greece where only 152 new fires broke out on the last day and thousands of people were evacuated. At least three people died in fires that broke out in Spain, Albania and Turkey, while dozens, including firefighters, were hospitalized due to burns or inhalation, BBC reports.
The fires take place in a period when southern Europe is facing a wave of heat with temperatures that have exceeded 40 degrees. New temperature records were reached in states such as France or Slovenia.
In Greece, thousands of people were evacuated from the Chios and Zakynthos tourist islands. In the west of the Peloponnese, the flames encompassed the city of Patras during the night and destroyed houses, business and vehicles.
On the island of Zante, three separate fire fronts, which extend more than 15 kilometers. Firefighters have not yet been able to bring the fires under control. Damage to houses, tourist facilities and agricultural land have been reported.
At least 13 firefighters were treated for burns and other lesions, fireproof spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said on Wednesday, warning that the situation could become even more difficult in the coming days.
“Today (no Wednesday) will be another very difficult day, because the risk of fires in most regions of the country will be very high,” said Vathrakogiannis.
Rescue boats evacuated tourists blocked by the flames advancing on the island of Chios, and the authorities requested fire extinguishing planes from other countries of the European Union.
“We are facing an extremely forestry risk”
In Spain, over 4,000 people were evacuated during the night in the province of León, in the northwest of the country. A volunteer firefighter died in the same area.
An employee of an equestrian center also died after suffering serious burns in Cantos, near Madrid, where the winds over 70 km/h pushed the flames near the homes, forcing hundreds of people to run.
“We are facing an extremely forestry risk. Please be very cautious,” said Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
The French Minister of Health, Catherine Vautrin, said that hospitals are ready for the consequences of the second heat wave in the country in just a few weeks.
In Montenegro, one soldier died and another was seriously injured when their water tank overturned as they fought with the flames on the hills of the capital, Podgorica.
In Portugal, firefighters fought with three large fires, including a proportions in Transcoso, in the center of the country.
Turkey has managed to extinguish several major fires, including Canakkale and Izmir, after hundreds of people were evacuated and the Dardanei and Airport in Canakkale were closed.
