The UK declares a national emergency as Portugal, France, Greece and Italy face the flames
Europe is facing a heat wave with record temperatures causing devastating fires, especially in the south of the continent, where countries such as Portugal, France, Italy and Greece are battling the fierce flames. The entire Portuguese country is at an extremely high risk of fires, with temperatures reaching 42 degrees. So far, between 12,000 and 15,000 hectares have been burned, an even higher figure than in 2021.
This Saturday, however, the situation appeared to be improving, with only one major fire active in the north of the area, between Baiao and Amarante districts. “We expect this fire to be under control during the day,” said André Fernandes, commander of civil defense. Yesterday, a pilot of a fire-fighting plane that crashed in the Guarda region, in the north of the country, was killed. At least two people have been killed and 60 injured in the fire in recent weeks.
The flames also devastate the south of France. Firefighters continue their work, especially in the Gironde department, where nearly 10,000 hectares of forest have been on fire since Tuesday. In Teste-de-Buch, one of the worst affected areas, the fire is under control, although authorities say it is not yet under control. The fires in this French area have mobilized more than a thousand firefighters and forced the evacuation of 12,000 people as a precaution. This weekend, much of the territory will reach 40 degrees.
In Northern Europe, in the United Kingdom, the government has declared a national emergency for the first time due to temperatures of 40 degrees, breaking the record of 38.7 the country reached in 2019. London Mayor Sadiq Khan advised residents not to use public transport except in cases of absolute necessity and some schools announced they would remain closed during the heat wave in southern England.
One of the countries most affected by fires every summer is Greece, where firefighters brought under control this Saturday a fire that had started the day before on the island of Crete, cradle of Hellenic civilization and of great archaeological value. wanted to get. Seven rural towns had to be evacuated as a result of the flames. Although they approached the settlements, no houses were damaged, said Agios Vasilios city mayor, Ioannis Tatarakis. The danger has not yet passed. And it is that only this week the Greek fire brigade has had to deal with a hundred fires in the south of the country.
In Italy, the fire has been hitting the center and north of the country since the beginning of the week. Now there are fears of the damage that the high temperatures could cause in the southern zone, which is much drier. Adding to this heat wave is a drought unrecorded in seven decades, further complicating the fight against the flames.
Source: La Verdad
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