The large forest fire in southwestern France has now been brought under control, but the same is not true of severe fires in other European countries. The persistent dry heat leads to forest fires in particular in Greece, Spain and Slovenia. Many areas, including tourist spots, are being evacuated.
Spain
A fire that started on the Spanish island this week Tenerife erupted, has already destroyed more than 2,150 hectares. 585 residents of the northern municipality of La Guancha have been brought to safety by emergency services. Hikers have been warned to avoid the nearby Teide nature reserve as flames approach that area. Higher humidity and weaker winds are expected to bring relief soon.
In Yunquera de Henaresnortheast of Madrid, and Olmeda del Rey, southeast of the capital, forest fires are also raging. Most fires in Spain are largely under control.
In the first seven months of this year, wildfires have destroyed some 200,000 hectares, or 2,000 square kilometers, in Spain.
A firefighting plane above the forest fire in Tenerife, Spain
A firefighting plane above the forest fire in Tenerife, Spain Photo: AP
Greece
In Greece, 141 fires were registered in the past 24 hours, the fire service reported. Virtually all available fire fighting helicopters and aircraft are currently in use. Temperatures above 40 degrees are forecast in the coming days, with little precipitation.
In the Dadia national park in the northeast of Greece and on the island of Lesbos big fires got out of hand. The combination of heat waves and drought makes it difficult to extinguish the flames.
The village of Dadia was evacuated and some 320 firefighters were deployed to fight the blaze. Soldiers and workers have mobilized to cut firebreaks in the forest.
On the south side of the island of Lesvos, where two villages have already been evacuated, several houses and cars have caught fire. The island is struggling with strong winds, which further fuel the flames.
Slovenia
In the Slovenian region of Karst entire villages have been evacuated. About 2,000 firefighters, civil defense workers and volunteers are fighting the fires. The fires are constantly fanned by the strong and dry winds.
Due to unexploded bombs from World War I, firefighting in some areas can only be done from the air.
Firefighters extinguish the fire in Slovenia’s Karst region for the sixth day in a row
Firefighters extinguish the fire in Slovenia’s Karst region for the sixth day in a row Photo: Getty Images
Italy
Due to the strong winds, it was feared that the fire in Karst would spread to Italy. That is why at the Italian municipality of Gorizia, on the border with Slovenia, about 350 people were taken to safety. The village of Savoyna d’Isonzo, among others, was hit.
Czech Republic
Also in the Czech National Park Bohemian Switzerland, on the border with Germany, a fire is raging. The fire has spread over an area of approximately 7 hectares, not far from a picturesque rock formation that is popular with tourists.
The extinguishing work is made more difficult by the difficult-to-access terrain. It is suspected that the fire was caused by human negligence.