Latest news with #evacuations
New York Times
a day ago
- Climate
- New York Times
Sprawling Wildfires Kill 2 and Force Evacuations in Cyprus Amid Stifling Heat
Firefighters in Cyprus on Thursday were battling sprawling wildfires that have killed at least two people and forced evacuations on the island, the authorities told local news media. The wildfires broke out on Wednesday and spread through a mountainous region near the southern city of Limassol, prompting dozens of people in several communities in the area to evacuate. The blaze, which burned homes and trees, covered nearly 39 square miles, or more than 24,000 acres, a spokesman for Cyprus Fire Brigade said on Thursday. Two people were found dead inside a charred vehicle, and dozens of others were treated for respiratory problems, the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, the country's public broadcaster, reported, and more than 100 people had been evacuated and staying in temporary shelters. Photos and videos circulating online showed red flames and smoke billowing from mountainsides. Eastern Europe has been sweltering under extreme heat and dry conditions for over a week, with heat alerts issued from northern Scandinavia all the way south to Cyprus. The fire brigade in Cyprus this week had warned of a high risk of wildfires. Investigators were still investigating the cause of the fire, which broke out near the village of Malia, but the chief of the Fire Brigade, Nikos Longinos, told the broadcaster that eyewitnesses reports suggested an arsonist was responsible. At least 14 aircraft were fighting the blaze from the air, a spokesman for the government of Cyprus said on Wednesday. Firefighters had controlled some fires but were racing to combat flare-ups on Thursday, Andreas Kettis, the spokesman for the Fire Brigade, said. Spain and Jordan were sending firefighting aircraft to help after Cyprus requested assistance, he said. The European Union also said Thursday that it had sent two airplanes from its joint firefighting fleet. The authorities in Cyprus warned residents on Thursday that many areas near the fire remained inaccessible or dangerous because of falling power lines on roads. More than a dozen communities remained without power, and the Electricity Authority of Cyprus said on Thursday in a social media post that it had only assessed damage in about 20 percent of the fire-affected area. 'The situation is very challenging,' it said. The hot and dry weather in the region was expected to persist. Heat alerts were issued through Thursday, and inland temperatures could reach up to 111 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Cyprus Department of Meteorology. (The average July maximum in Cyprus is typically around 90 degrees Fahrenheit.) The extreme heat is expected to ease early next week. Greece has also experienced punishing heat, with temperatures reaching nearly 113 degrees Fahrenheit in some parts on Tuesday. The heat has prompted concerns over the severity of this year's wildfire season. A large wildfire near Corinth in southern Greece on Tuesday prompted the evacuation of several villages. Niki Kitsantonis and Nazaneen Ghaffar contributed reporting.
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Climate
- Bloomberg
Cyprus Wildfire Leaves Two Dead as Temperatures on Island Soar
A wildfire on Cyprus left two people dead and burned dozens of homes, forcing authorities to order evacuations on the Mediterranean island. The blaze broke out in the Limassol district in the south of the island on Wednesday. Spain has sent two firefighting planes to help Cyprus, while Jordan is also providing assistance.
CBC
3 days ago
- General
- CBC
Whistler thins some trees in effort to reduce wildfire risk
Every year, wildfires force evacuations, scorches forests and turn homes into ashes. To fight back, some communities are turning to tree cutting. Supporters say it's key to reducing wildfire risk, but some worry it does more harm than good. Radio-Canada's Camille Vernet went to Whistler to find out what's really at stake.
Al Jazeera
4 days ago
- Climate
- Al Jazeera
Vietnam on high alert ahead of Typhoon Wipha
Vietnam on high alert ahead of Typhoon Wipha NewsFeed Vietnam is bracing for Typhoon Wipha, expected to make landfall Tuesday with winds up to 166 km/h. Mass evacuations, flight cancellations, and flood alerts are underway as the country prepares for deadly floods and landslides. The storm killed three in the Philippines. Video Duration 00 minutes 37 seconds 00:37 Video Duration 01 minutes 46 seconds 01:46 Video Duration 01 minutes 24 seconds 01:24 Video Duration 00 minutes 58 seconds 00:58 Video Duration 01 minutes 18 seconds 01:18 Video Duration 02 minutes 24 seconds 02:24 Video Duration 00 minutes 58 seconds 00:58
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Cram Fire nears megafire status in Central Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — approaching the 100,000-acre megafire status, continues to burn in Central Oregon about 15 miles north of Madras. However, cooler temps and lower wind speeds this weekend 'will likely moderate fire behavior,' officials said Saturday. The fire, which began July 13, is now acres with 775 personnel actively engaged in the battle. Evacuations remain in effect. Jefferson, Wasco and Crook County Sheriffs have issued Level 3 (Go Now), Level 2 (Be Set), and Level 1 (Be Ready) evacuations across multiple the large fire, officials said there are no closures to Bureau of Land Management land 'at this time.' But conditions are constantly monitored and may change. Burdoin Fire evacuations expand east, Lyle at Level 3 'Go Now' According to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the Cram Fire was sparked by a transformer in the area. However, the cause remains under investigation. In recent years, Oregon has seen several megafires during peak fire season, . That historic season burned well over a million acres of land statewide. and burned more acreage than in the 2020 season. The KOIN 6 Weather team will continue to monitor wildfire dangers and wildfire smoke impacts as the season heads into the hottest and driest stretch of the year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
