Wildfires spread across Europe
In Turkey, firefighters have been battling over 600 fires in drought-affected areas over the past week. Tragically, a forestry worker injured while fighting flames in Izmir province succumbed to his injuries. The fire, located about 100 kilometers east of Izmir, has already claimed the lives of an 81-year-old bedridden man and a 39-year-old forestry worker. Although the blaze was brought under control on Friday, firefighters continued to combat a fire in Dortyol, near the Syrian border, exacerbated by strong winds.
France faces new fires
In France, the severe heatwave that began on June 19 officially ended on Friday, lasting 16 days—matching the length of the deadly 2003 heatwave. However, on the same day, major fires ignited in southern regions, prompting authorities to shut down sections of the A9 motorway during the busy summer holiday weekend. Motorists faced traffic jams extending up to 10 kilometers, with water distributed to those stranded in the extreme heat.
Evacuations and public fear
In Mireval, near Montpellier, a fire fueled by swirling winds led to the evacuation of about 10 residents. Local resident Lorette Gargaud described the terrifying conditions, with thick smoke and falling ashes making the air nearly unbreathable.
Greece's arrest and high alert
In Greece, a 52-year-old man was arrested on the island of Evia, accused of starting a fire while clearing brush. Greek firefighters remain on high alert due to high temperatures and strong winds, as the region continues to face significant fire risks.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Dubai Eye
3 hours ago
- Dubai Eye
Wildfire threatens Marseille, shuts down airport in southern France
A fast-moving wildfire reached the outskirts of Marseille, France's second-largest city, on Tuesday, leading its airport to be shut down, with residents told to stay indoors and shut all openings to be safe from the smoke. The blaze, fanned by winds of up to 70 km per hour, could be smelled in the centre of Marseille, residents said, as thick clouds of smoke hovered over the city. "It's very striking - apocalyptic even," said Monique Baillard, a resident of Les Pennes-Mirabeau, a town north of Marseille where the fire, which has now burned across around 350 hectares, started. Wildfires, which have become more destructive in Mediterranean countries in recent years due to climate change, were also raging in northeastern Spain, where large parts of the country were on high alert for fires. Last week there were fires on the Greek island of Crete and in Athens, as much of Europe sweltered in an early summer heatwave. As the fire was spreading, residents of Marseille's 16th borough, which borders Les Pennes-Mirabeau, were also instructed by the prefecture to stay home, close doors and shutters and put damp cloths on any openings. "The fire that started in Pennes-Mirabeau is now at the gates of Marseille," mayor Benoit Payan said on X. One bank worker reached by phone said: "The sky is grey with ash, and the smell of fire is very strong in the centre of Marseille." Residents were told not to evacuate unless ordered to, to leave roads free for rescue services. "At this stage, populations must remain confined," the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur prefecture posted on X. "Close shutters, doors, keep your property clear for emergency services, and do not travel on the roads." The local fire service said on X that 168 firefighters had been deployed to fight the blaze. Fire engines and helicopters were also being used. A spokesperson for Marseille airport, France's fourth-busiest, said planes had not been taking off or landing since around midday and some flights had been diverted to Nice, Nimes and other regional airports. It was unclear when the airport would reopen. Train lines heading north and west from Marseille were suspended due to a fire near the tracks, the SNCF train operator said. Meanwhile, a wildfire that started near Narbonne, in southwestern France, was still active on Monday, fanned by winds of 60 km per hour. Some 2,000 hectares have burnt, the local prefecture said.
Al Etihad
10 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Acropolis shuts, outdoor work halted as heatwave scorches Greece
8 July 2025 14:15 Athens (AFP) Greece's top archaeological monument, the Acropolis, was partially shut on Tuesday as part of emergency measures to protect visitors and workers around the country during a four-day Greek culture ministry said the world-renowned site would be shut till 5:00 pm (1400 GMT) "for the safety of workers and visitors, owing to high temperatures."The four-day heatwave confirmed by meteorologists began Sunday is the second to grip Greece since late are expected to reach 42°C on Tuesday, with a maximum of 38°C in temperatures are expected on protect outdoor workers, the labour ministry has decreed a work stoppage from 12:00 to 5:00 pm in various parts of the country, including several stoppage mainly affects construction work and delivery riders."Days with a heatwave make my job more difficult," cycle-riding courier Michalis Keskinidis told AFP."We drink a lot of water to protect ourselves from the heat, combined with electrolytes, and take breaks whenever possible," the 43-year-old 2,500-year-old Acropolis, built on a rock overlooking the capital that offers little shade, draws tens of thousands of visitors year it recorded some 4.5 million visitors, an increase of over 15% compared to had been forced to order similar shutdowns in the past two years in heatwave conditions. Risk of fire, storms The Greek civil protection authority has warned of high fire risk in the greater Athens area, in central Greece and the Peloponnese fire department has been dealing with up to 50 fires daily, the head of the Greek fire service officers' union Constantinos Tsigkas told state TV Serbia's hydrometeorological service RMHZ warned that weather conditions could fuel more fires, after 620 fires were recorded there are also thunderstorms expected in Serbia's northern Vojvodina region, as well as in western and central has also warned of the possibility of hail and hurricane-force gusts of has already felt the impact of storms since Monday, with several of the country's regions Tuesday, heavy rain and gale-force winds flooded roads, knocked down trees and caused power outages at the Croatian port town of Split, the state-run HRT broadcaster Budapest, strong winds damaged roofs, felled trees onto roads and downed power lines on Monday, with the national meteorological service HungaroMet measuring winds up to 137 kilometres per hour locally. Rail traffic was severely disrupted across Hungary with full restoration of services potentially requiring weeks, according to Construction and Transport Minister Janos Lazar.
Middle East Eye
2 days ago
- Middle East Eye
Syria: Wildfires ravage Latakia province for fourth consecutive day
Wildfires continued to leave a trail of destruction in Syria's Latakia province on Sunday, as firefighters from neighbouring Jordan arrived to help battle a fourth day of devastating fires in the war-ravaged country. Aerial footage of seen by Middle East Eye showed vast swathes of forest and agricultural land engulfed in flames. Meanwhile, videos uploaded on social media captured huge plumes of smoke billowing into the sky as Syrians rushed to get to safety. Syrian authorities said at least 10,000 hectares of forest and farmland had been destroyed, with hundreds of families forced to flee their homes. "Hundreds of thousands of forest trees over an estimated area of around 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) in 28 locations have turned to ash," Raed al-Saleh, Syria's Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management, said in a statement. Speaking at a press conference later on Sunday, he referred to the situation as "a real environmental disaster." New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Emergency workers reported that they were struggling to contain the fires, citing difficult terrain and the risk of unexploded ordnances - a lethal legacy of Syria's recently ended civil war - as major obstacles. Massive wildfires have ravaged Syria's coastal #Latakia province since early July. As part of the ongoing response by firefighting teams from the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management, the ministry has deployed more than 160 fire engines and 12 heavy machinery units from… — The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) July 6, 2025 The relentless fires, which have been centred around the mountainous district of Qastal Maaf, have been fuelled by soaring temperatures and fierce winds. In June, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation told AFP that Syria had "not seen such bad climate conditions in 60 years." In a statement posted on X, Najat Rochdi, the United Nations deputy envoy to Syria, pleaded with the international community for help, saying Damascus "needs more international assistance" to face the fires. Meanwhile, Jordan's public security directorate said it had dispatched "specialised firefighting teams from the civil defence... [that] have been provided with all the modern equipment and machinery necessary to carry out their duties to the fullest extent." The Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, warned that "smoke emissions are reaching the northern part of the coastal mountains, the city of Hama and its countryside, and areas south of Idlib." Wildfires are a common summer threat across the eastern Mediterranean, but experts warn they are becoming more intense and frequent due to climate change. Neighbouring Turkey has been battling wildfires since 26 June, which authorities said were caused by faulty power lines. At least three people are known to have died in Turkey, whilst tens of thousands have been evacuated.
