Heat wave and drought: Southern Europe is battling forest fires

As of: 07/13/2022 9:24 p.m

Forest fires have broken out in parts of southern Europe and Turkey due to prolonged drought and heat. An improvement in the situation is not in sight – on the contrary. It is likely to be one of the longest heat waves in decades.

Extreme and prolonged heat in Spain, Portugal, France and Italy has led to the outbreak of many forest fires. In Spain, the currently worst fire continued to rage in the municipality of Las Hurdes near the border with Portugal. The flames have already destroyed around 3,500 hectares there.

The weather service Aemet issued an alarm for 16 of Spain’s 17 autonomous communities: The second heat wave of the year will probably be one of the longest since records began in 1975. It should be particularly hot with temperatures of up to 44 degrees in Andalusia in the south and in Extremadura in the west of the country. There, on the border with Portugal, more than 400 people were evacuated because of a forest fire.

Near Madrid, seawater is skimmed from the air to fight the fire.

Image: AP

A dead man in Portugal

In the neighboring country of Portugal, the fire brigade and civil defense also fought against forest fires, sometimes with temperatures well above 40 degrees – especially in the center of the country. A woman died in a fire in the village of Murtosa.

In the morning, more than 1,500 firefighters were fighting four major fires in the municipalities of Leiria, Pombal and Ourém, around a hundred kilometers north of Lisbon. A total of 600 people were brought to safety, around 120 of whom had to be treated medically, according to civil protection. Officials said 96 percent of Portugal was experiencing an extreme or severe drought at the end of June.

Firefighting helicopter crashes on Samos

A forest fire also broke out on the Greek holiday island of Samos in the west near the town of Paleochori. As the online portal Samos Voice reported, 14 fire engines, three firefighting planes and two firefighting helicopters were deployed to fight the flames. The fire was still not under control by evening. Two towns were evacuated as a precaution.

According to Greek media, one of the helicopters crashed during the mission just as it was about to take water from the sea. Accordingly, there were four occupants on board. The pilot could have been rescued alive by the Coast Guard and taken to a hospital. Two of the other inmates were found dead, according to the media, the fourth was still being searched for in the evening.

Because of the severe drought, the fire brigade has declared the second highest warning level for forest fires for several islands in the East Aegean, but also for the Attica region around Athens and the large islands of Euboea and Crete. Already on Tuesday, 35 fires were reported across the country within 24 hours.

evacuations in France

On the French Atlantic coast, emergency services brought thousands of people to safety from the spreading flames. At Teste-de-Buch, south of the city of Bordeaux, five campsites were evacuated as a precaution. 6,000 people were taken to other places, according to the Gironde prefecture. Temperatures of 37 degrees are expected in the area.

France also uses fire-fighting aircraft.

Image: AFP

The fires have now fallen victim to more than 1,200 hectares of land. They are favored by prolonged drought and high temperatures. The high heat warning level orange has been declared. According to the prefecture, more than 600 firefighters battled the blazes. Emergency services from other parts of France were also expected to provide support.

Waldbrände in the Gironde Department

Carolin Dylla, ARD Paris, 13.7.2022 3:59 p.m

Italy fights fire from the air

In Italy, the fire brigade is fighting, among other things, in the border region between Tuscany and Liguria against flames on a hill that is difficult to access, as the Tuscan authorities announced. Two helicopters and six units from different forces are on site. Increasing winds could fuel the flames in the area.

There is also a fire in Turkey

Forest fires have broken out again in Turkey. On the island of Datca in the south-west of the country, which is popular with holidaymakers, eight fire-fighting planes, 14 helicopters and more than 100 fire-fighting vehicles are fighting the flames, the Turkish forest authority said. Several houses had to be cleared, and there have been no reports of injuries so far. Also in the province of Izmir, numerous firefighters are on duty due to forest fires.