Heatwave Devastates Southern Europe as Wildfires Rage On
A severe heatwave is sweeping through Southern Europe, with national meteorological institutes in both France and Spain indicating that the sweltering conditions will persist at least through this week and possibly beyond, reports 24brussels.
The ongoing heatwave has raised alarm across the region, where rising temperatures exacerbate the risk of wildfires. “Heatwaves have always happened, there will always be heatwaves, but all of the temperatures are just getting higher, so the chances of reaching these potentially dangerous temperatures are just ratcheting up as the world warms,” stated climate expert Barnes.
Southern European nations, including Portugal, Spain, Greece, the Balkans, and Turkey, are grappling with devastating wildfires fanned by the extreme heat. The situation has turned dire; in Spain, two fatalities have been reported, including that of a firefighter, while thousands of individuals have been evacuated across the country.
In Greece, wildfires have claimed the lives of three individuals, with flames threatening Patras, the country’s third-largest city, resulting in mass evacuations. Emergency services are stretched thin as they attempt to combat the ferocious blazes.
Albania is also suffering, with around 50 fires recorded recently, particularly affecting the southern region of Gramsh, where an elderly man has died. In Turkey, wildfires have resulted in at least 17 fatalities in the past month, showcasing the scale of the crisis. Last week, France experienced its worst wildfire since 1949, underscoring the increasing severity of climate-related disasters in the region.
