Dangerous heatwave and wildfires in southern Europe: Three dead

The fire situation has become dire across southern Europe with a severe heatwave. Wildfires are spreading rapidly in Greece, Spain, Turkey and Albania. More than 152 new fires have broken out in Greece in the past 24 hours. The country's 4,850 fire brigades are trying to control the fires, and thousands of people have been evacuated to safe places.

At least three people have died in Spain, Albania and Turkey due to the fires. Many more people have been hospitalized with smoke and fire injuries. Temperatures in various European countries exceeded 40 degrees Celsius earlier this week. Record heatwaves have been seen in France and Slovenia.

Thousands of tourists have been evacuated from the Greek tourist islands of Chios and Zakynthos. Fires in the western Peloponnese have reached the city of Patras overnight, destroying homes, businesses and vehicles. Three separate fires, spread over 15 kilometers (6.3 miles) of land on the island of Zante, are still uncontrollable, causing extensive damage to homes, tourist infrastructure and farmland.

At least 15 firefighters have been burned and injured, Greek fire service spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said, warning that the situation could get worse in the coming days. Tourists stranded on the island of Chios have been evacuated by boat. Additional firefighting aircraft have been called in from the European Union.

More than 4,000 people have been evacuated in the Spanish province of Leon. A volunteer firefighter has died in the same area. An equestrian center worker died after suffering severe burns in Tres Cantos, near Madrid. Winds of up to 70 kilometers per hour are fanning the flames. The Spanish government has increased its national emergency response.

Heatwave and wildfire warnings have been issued in Albania, France, Portugal, Italy and countries in the Balkans. A four-year-old boy has died in a car in Italy, suffering severe brain damage from heatstroke.

A second heatwave has hit France, and hospitals are on standby. A soldier has been killed after a water tanker overturned in the mountains north of Podgorica, Montenegro. Three major wildfires are being fought in Portugal.

Some fires in Çanakkale and Izmir, Turkey, have been brought under control, but hundreds of people have been evacuated. Parts of the UK are in their fourth heatwave. Two fires in London have burned more than 17 acres.

Scientists have warned that global warming is making summers in the Mediterranean region hotter and drier, increasing the risk of longer and more intense fire seasons.

Source: BBC