4 hours ago
Deadly wildfires intensified across southern Europe, threatening cities, farmland and forests. Greece, Spain, Turkey, and Albania reported fatalities, mass evacuations and widespread destruction amid extreme heat, strained firefighting resources, and suspected arson cases.
A man fights against a wildfire in Vounteni village, on the outskirts of Patras, western Greece. (Photo: AP)
New Delhi,UPDATED: Aug 14, 2025 00:10 IST
Wildfires intensified across Southern Europe on Wednesday, prompting round-the-clock efforts to protect Greece’s third-largest city, Patras and leaving at least three people dead in Spain, Turkey and Albania.
Outside the Greek port city of Patras, firefighters battled to save homes and farmland as flames ripped through pine forests and olive groves. Columns of fire rose behind apartment blocks, while dozens of vehicles were destroyed in a nearby impound lot.
“Today is another very difficult day with the level of fire risk remaining very high across many parts of the country,” Fire Service spokesperson Vassilis Vathrakoyiannis said. He noted that at least 15 firefighters had been hospitalised or treated for burns, smoke inhalation or exhaustion.
Residents joined the fight, using branches and buckets of water as planes and helicopters dropped water from above.
INSUFFICIENT RESOURCES AFTER WEEKS OF HEATWAVES
Multiple blazes erupted across the Mediterranean after weeks of extreme heat. On the island of Chios, exhausted Greek firefighters were seen sleeping roadside after night-long shifts. Aircraft shuttled between fires in western Greece, Patras, and Zakynthos, while Athens sent crews to Albania as part of an international response.
In Albania, an 80-year-old man died south of Tirana. Four villages were evacuated near a former army ammunition depot, while explosions from buried World War II shells were reported in the Korca district near the Greek border. Authorities said dozens of homes had been destroyed.
SPAIN AND TURKEY RECORD DEATHS
In Spain, a firefighting volunteer was killed in Castile and León, where thousands have been displaced. “The wildfire situation remains serious, and taking extra precautions is essential,” Prime Minister Pedro Snchez posted online. Evacuation centers in central Spain overflowed, and high-speed rail services between Madrid and Galicia were suspended after flames reached nearby tracks.
Turkey reported the death of a forestry worker in an accident involving a fire truck, which also injured four others. The country has battled severe wildfires since late June, with 18 fatalities so far, including 10 rescue volunteers and forestry workers in July.
EXTREME HEAT AND SUSPECTED ARSON
In France, temperatures reached 42C (108F) for a third day, prompting officials to allow event cancellations and restrict access to high-risk areas. Across the region, causes of the fires have included careless farming practices, faulty power lines, lightning storms, and suspected arson.
In North Macedonia, investigators linked a blaze outside Skopje to rogue developers. The EU has dispatched firefighting teams and aircraft to affected countries, including Montenegro, where wildfires continue to burn near Podgorica.
“Natural disasters know no borders,” said Ljuban Tmusic, Montenegro's civil protection chief. “In Montenegro, the resources we have ... are clearly not enough.”
- Ends
With inputs from Associated Press
Published By:
Ishita Bajpai
Published On:
Aug 14, 2025
