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Metro
2 days ago
- Climate
- Metro
Map reveals where wildfires are spreading in Turkey and parts of Europe
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video More than a dozen people dead; tens of thousands of others evacuated;and thousands of hectares of land burning – this is the 'titanic battle' the Balkans is facing. Wildfires are currently raging in Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria amid a 44°C heatwave, ongoing droughts and strong winds. A map from Nasa shows how flames have spread across the region in the last week despite efforts to contain them. What has become clear is that climate change is accelerating the disaster in a region already on the brink. Wildfires that have engulfed Turkey for weeks are now threatening Bursa, its fourth-largest city, early on Sunday. More than 3,500 people have been forced to flee their homes in villages to the northeast as more than 1,900 firefighters battled the flames. The highway linking the city to the capital, Ankara, was shut as surrounding forests burned. Four people have been killed so far. The death toll rose last night after two firefighters, who were pulled from a water tanker that rolled while heading to a forest inferno, died in hospital. Another firefighter died from a heart attack while on the line of duty. Their deaths raised Turkey's wildfire fatalities to 17 since June, including 10 rescue volunteers and forestry workers killed on Wednesday. Orhan Saribal, an opposition parliamentarian for Bursa, described the site as 'an apocalypse'. He added on X: 'While carrying water to the forest fire between Gürsu and Kestel districts, the water tanker that rolled into a ravine claimed the lives of our three worker brothers. 'As our lungs burned, this tragedy added a heartache to our pain. I wish mercy for our brothers and condolences to their families, loved ones, and our Bursa.' Footage revealed an ashen landscape where farms and pine forests had earlier stood. The rise in wildfires comes as Turkey recorded its highest ever temperature of 50.5°C in the southeastern Sirnak province on Friday. In neighbouring Greece, 50 fires scorched the suburbs of Athens, forcing the government to evacuate residents over the weekend. Firefighters were working on five major fronts late Sunday in the area of Peloponnese, west of the capital, as well as on the islands of Evia, Kythera and Crete. Kythera, a tourist island with 3,600 residents, continued to face 'worrying' conditions. Deputy mayor Giorgos Komninos told the state-run ERT News channel that half of Kythera had been charred. He said: 'Houses, beehives, olive trees have been burnt.' ERT reported that a fire was still burning on the island late Sunday, but in smaller fronts and the situation was improving. Prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a statement released on Sunday morning: 'The state mechanism was called to engage in a titanic battle, simultaneously responding to dozens of wildfires across the country. 'Today, the situation appears improved, but the fight continues with all available resources.' Firefighters battled wildfires at nearly 100 locations across the country on Sunday, with emergency services describing the situation as 'critical'. Theodora Vasileva, mayor of one of the devastated villages, Kozarevo, in the southeastern province of Yambol, said this is the first time she had witnessed a disaster of such magnitude. She added: 'The rapid notification system helped us a lot – people started calling and gathered in minutes. This is the first time I am seeing this hell; the sunflower crops were all in flames. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 'The elderly, whose homes are everything for them, wept. They were so worried, but everything is under control for now, their houses are preserved.' Emergency volunteer Zvezdelin Vlaykov stressed that in all his years of firefighting, he has never seen anything like it. More Trending He added: 'It's a merciless tragedy.' This comes as two men were charged with terrorism offences after allegedly deliberately setting fires in the cities of Veliko Turnovo and Sliven. The Ministry of Interior confirmed that the charges have been escalated from simple arson to crimes under Chapter One of the Criminal Code. Bulgaria is the most affected country by fires for 2024-2025 in the EU, with more that 38,000 square miles affected. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Is it safe to travel to Turkey right now? Latest UK Foreign Office tourist advice MORE: Is it safe to travel to Greece? Latest tourist advice amid 'unpredictable' wildfires MORE: Londoners outraged over 'stupid' new charge being added to restaurant bills
Time of India
2 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Greece: Wildfires continue to burn with danger mounting
Representative image (Image: AP) Greece is continuing to battle wildfires that have destroyed homes and sparked evacuations for a second day. Fires were still raging Sunday morning in the Peloponnese area west of the capital, as well as on the islands of Evia and Kythera, with aircraft and helicopters resuming their work in several parts of the country at dawn. "Today is expected to be a difficult day with a very high risk of fire, almost throughout the territory", fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said, though he added that the situation was improving. Tourist island Kythera 'half burned' Forecasters predicted the strong winds that have fanned the flames would die down later on Sunday in most areas but warned that Kythera, an popular tourist island with 3,600 inhabitants, continued to face "worrying" windy conditions. When the blaze began on Saturday morning it forced the evacuation of a popular tourist beach. On Sunday morning evacuation messages were sent to people on the island, which lies off the south-eastern tip of the Peloponnese, with half of the island having been burnt according to the deputy mayor of Kythera, Giorgos Komninos. "Houses, beehives, olive trees have been burnt," Komninos told state-run ERT News channel. "A monastery is in direct danger right now." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brain tumor has left my son feeling miserable; please help! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo Dozens of firefighters, including units frim the Czech Republic, were supported by three helicopters and two aircraft. Two Italian aircraft are expected to assist later on Sunday. Multiple regions at high risk of fires According to officials, eleven regions of Greece still face a very high fire risk. There were numerous flare-ups overnight on the island of Evia, near Athens, where the flames have laid waste to swathes of forest and killed thousands of farm animals. Workers have been trying since dawn to repair serious damage to Evia's electricity network and some villages were facing problems with water supply. Further south on Crete, reports said fires that broke out on Saturday afternoon and destroyed four houses and a church but had now largely been contained. Meanwhile, police were reportedly bolstering forces in Kryoneri, north of Athens, with fears looters could target houses abandoned by their owners fleeing a fire that erupted on Saturday afternoon but that was mostly contained on Sunday. Consistent extreme weather across country Greece has endured heatwave conditions for almost a week, with temperatures passing 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in many areas. On Saturday, the temperature reached 45.2C in Amfilohia but the extreme heat is expected to lessen from Monday. Last month, fires on Greece's fifth-biggest island Chios, in the northern Aegean, destroyed 4,700 hectares (11,600 acres) of land, while earlier in July a wildfire on Crete forced the evacuation of 5,000 people. The most destructive year for wildfires was 2023, when nearly 175,000 hectares were lost and there were 20 deaths.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Climate
- Irish Independent
‘We will burn': Greece battles for control as wildfires rage, with tourist areas hit
Firefighters battled five fires across the islands of Evia, Kythira and Crete, as well as in the Peloponnese area, west of Athens, as temperatures reached highs of 40C. Giorgos Komninos, the deputy mayor of Kythira, told ERT News channel: 'If air assets don't come here, we will burn.' He spoke of 'unimaginable destruction' and claimed there had been delays in the aerial response, with flames now threatening monasteries and tourist areas. 'Houses, beehives, olive trees have been burnt,' he added. Czech firefighters and Italian aircraft have been deployed to assist Greek emergency services in battling the blazes, which have been worsened by strong winds. Vassilis Vathrakogiannis, a fire department spokesman, said yesterday that the situation had improved after an 'all-night battle', though the risk of new fires still remained 'very dangerous'. While forecasters predicted the high winds would die down across much of Greece yesterday, they continued to warn of 'worrying' conditions on the tourist island of Kythira, which has around 3,600 inhabitants. We have suffered great damage, which we still cannot calculate Dozens of firefighters supported by three helicopters and two aircraft tackling the fire in Kythira, which erupted on Saturday morning and forced the evacuation of a popular beach. In Evia, teams worked through the night to repair serious damage to the island's electricity network, while some villages faced issues with water supply. Giorgos Kelaiditis, the deputy governor of the island, said the flames had ripped through a livestock unit, killing about 3,000 animals. 'It was an absolute disaster. We have suffered great damage, which we still cannot calculate,' he told APE-MPE. Evacuation messages were sent to those living and staying on the island early yesterday. Officials have reported 11 regions of Greece still face a very high fire risk. It was reported that fires just south of Crete, which broke out on Saturday afternoon and destroyed four houses and a church, had been largely contained. Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis wrote on social media that anyone who lost possessions 'should know that the state will be by their side'. He said Saturday was a 'titanic' struggle but 'the picture today looks better and the battle continues with all available resources'.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Climate
- Express Tribune
Greece wildfires abating
Greece on Sunday was still battling wildfires that have ravaged homes and sparked evacuations across the country, but firefighters have brought many outbreaks under control. According to the Fire Brigade, 55 new fires erupted in the last 24 hours but 50 were immediately controlled. Firefighters were working on five major fire fronts late Sunday in the Peloponnese area west of Athens, as well as on the islands of Evia, Kythera and Crete. "Today is expected to be a difficult day with a very high risk of fire, almost throughout the territory," fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis warned Sunday morning, though he added that the situation was improving. Forecasters predicted that strong winds that have been fanning the flames would die down on Sunday in most areas. But they warned that Kythera, a popular tourist island with 3,600 inhabitants, which lies off the south-eastern tip of the Peloponnese, continued to face "worrying" conditions. Giorgos Komninos, deputy mayor of Kythera, told the state-run ERT News channel that half of Kythera had been charred. "Houses, beehives, olive trees have been burnt," he said. ERT reported that a fire was still burning on the island late Sunday, but in smaller fronts and the situation was improving. Dozens of firefighters supported by three helicopters and two aircraft were battling the Kythera blaze, which erupted Saturday and forced the evacuation of people stranded on a popular tourist beach. Local authorities have requested a state of emergency so that stepped-up assistance can be provided for the island, which was previously stricken by a major fire in 2017. The Egnatia highway, a key route across the north of the country, was closed in both directions Sunday afternoon near the inland town of Kozani because of a fire fanned by strong winds, ERT said. Traffic was diverted to an old highway. Six regions of Greece will still face a very high fire risk on Monday, according to officials. Greece requested help on Saturday and two Italian aircraft were expected to arrive Sunday, the fire brigade said. Units from the Czech Republic are already at work. Numerous flare-ups were reported Sunday afternoon on the island of Evia, near Athens, where flames laid waste to swathes of forest and killed thousands of farm animals. Workers have toiled throughout the day to repair serious damage to Evia's electricity network and some villages were facing water supply disruptions. On Crete, reports said fires that started Saturday were now largely contained. In Kryoneri, north of Athens, police reportedly bolstered security as fears grow that looters could target houses abandoned by residents fleeing a fire that erupted Saturday but which was mostly contained on Sunday. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis wrote on social media that anyone who lost possessions "should know that the state will be by their side". He said the struggle to block the flames on Saturday had been "titanic", but "the picture today looks better and the battle continues with all available resources". Greece has endured heatwave conditions for a week, with temperatures surpassing 40C degrees (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in many areas. On Saturday, the temperature reached 45.2C in Amfilohia, in western Greece. On Sunday, the maximum temperature was 42.4C in Thiva, central Greece. The extreme heat was expected to subside from Monday. Last month, fires on Greece's fifth-biggest island of Chios, in the northern Aegean, destroyed 4,700 hectares (11,600 acres) of land, while early July a wildfire on Crete forced the evacuation of 5,000 people. Greece, like many countries, is experiencing hotter summers stoked by human-induced climate change, which increases the length, frequency and intensity of heatwaves, which favours wildfires.
Kuwait Times
2 days ago
- Climate
- Kuwait Times
Greece gets EU help to battle deadly wildfires
A helicopter drops water to a forest over trees following a wildfire near Psachna Village on Evia (Euboea) island, the second-largest Greek island, on July 27, 2025. -- AFP ATHENS: Greece on Sunday was battling wildfires that have ravaged homes and sparked evacuations, with Czech firefighters and Italian aircraft being deployed to help. Firefighters were working on five fire fronts late Sunday in the Peloponnese area west of Athens, as well as on the islands of Evia, Kythera and Crete. 'Today is expected to be a difficult day with a very high risk of fire, almost throughout the territory,' fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said, though he added that the situation was improving. Forecasters predicted that strong winds that have been fanning the flames would die down on Sunday in most areas. But they warned that Kythera, a popular tourist island with 3,600 inhabitants, continued to face 'worrying' conditions. Evacuation messages were on Sunday sent to people on the island, which lies off the south-eastern tip of the Peloponnese. Giorgos Komninos, deputy mayor of Kythera, told the state-run ERT News channel that half of Kythera had been charred. 'Houses, beehives, olive trees have been burnt,' he said. ERT reported that a broad fire was still burning on the island late Sunday, but in smaller fronts and the situation was improving. Dozens of firefighters supported by three helicopters and two aircraft were battling the Kythera blaze, which erupted Saturday and forced the evacuation of people stranded on a popular tourist beach. Local authorities have requested a state of emergency so that stepped-up assistance can be provided for the island, which was previously stricken by a major fire in 2017. Eleven regions of Greece still face a very high fire risk, according to officials. Greece requested EU help on Saturday and two Italian aircraft were expected to arrive on Sunday, the fire brigade said. Units from the Czech Republic were already at work. Numerous flare-ups were reported overnight on the island of Evia, near Athens, where flames laid waste to swathes of forest and killed thousands of farm animals. Workers have toiled throughout the day to repair serious damage to Evia's electricity network and some villages were facing water supply disruptions. — AFP
