Brussels, August 17: Europe has been engulfed in wildfires for the past few months, affecting several countries. In Greece, an elderly couple tragically lost their lives due to a wildfire on Sunday. Meanwhile, Belgium is grappling with its largest wildfire in modern history, which has overtaken a remote natural area.
According to the Greek Coast Guard, the couple was caught in the flames near Peristeria Beach on Salamis Island, close to Athens. In response to the fire threat, authorities ordered the evacuation of over 500 people to safer locations.
Helicopters were deployed to assist in firefighting efforts in Salamis. Firefighters faced significant challenges due to strong winds and dry conditions, making it difficult to control the blaze.
In Spain’s Aragon region, a soldier lost his life while battling wildfires on Sunday. The fires have been raging for nearly a week, endangering a monastery that is over 1,000 years old. Additional firefighters from France are being prepared to assist in controlling the situation.
Portugal is also mobilizing hundreds of firefighters to combat wildfires in multiple locations. Near the village of Dine, close to the Spanish border, five firefighters were injured when their vehicle was caught in the flames. Other areas near the Spanish border, including Boticas and Chaves, are also experiencing wildfires.
In Belgium, a fire in a remote natural area near Germany is being described as the largest wildfire in the country’s modern history. The challenging geographical conditions have posed difficulties for firefighting efforts. Mark Gilbert, the chief firefighter, informed Belgium’s national broadcaster VRT that the country requires more resources to combat the significant blaze.
In Croatia, wildfires reached a tourist resort on Friday, resulting in one death and 40 injuries, while approximately 1,200 people were evacuated to safety.
Hundreds of residents from villages in Germany and southwestern France have also been evacuated due to fire threats. In Greece, operations are underway to safely evacuate tourists from affected beaches, while the military in Spain is assisting in relocating historical heritage sites to safety.
The European Union has issued a warning of a “very serious” threat regarding the wildfire situation across various parts of the continent.
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