Greece is under threat from fast-moving wildfires as extreme heat and strong winds drive blazes across southern Europe. Patras, the country’s third-largest city, has been evacuated after nearly 10,000 hectares of land burned in two days. Entire villages have been emptied, homes and businesses destroyed, and hundreds of vehicles incinerated.
The crisis comes as a heatwave blankets southern Europe, sparking blazes from Portugal to the Balkans. Spain is also battling extreme heat, with temperatures peaking at 45C and killing two people on Wednesday. The heatwave is expected to last until Monday, making it one of the longest in the country on record.
Authorities say nearly 99,000 hectares have been destroyed nationwide this year – double last year’s total by mid-August. In Albania, 24 wildfires burned, forcing residents from central villages. Italy brought under control a five-day blaze on Mount Vesuvius but remains under extreme heat warnings in 16 cities.
Europe is experiencing more frequent and intense heatwaves due to human-induced climate change. Britain entered its fourth heatwave of the summer, with temperatures forecast to peak at 34C.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy5dqxd0z1o