Wildfires sweep Europe as Greece, Spain report deaths and Belgium tackles record blaze
PARIS, Aug 17 — Two people died when fires broke out on a Greek island and a soldier died fighting a fire in...
Paris, August 17 – A soldier perished while battling a wildfire in Spain, and two individuals lost their lives on a Greek island when fires erupted on Salamis near Athens, according to reports. Meanwhile, Belgium grappled with its most extensive blaze since records began, bordering Germany.
In Greece, two fatalities were reported and hundreds of residents were evacuated from popular beaches as wildfires scorched the island of Salamis. Coastguard officials stated that over 570 people were transported to safety via coast guard vessels.
In Spain, a Spanish soldier succumbed to his injuries while working to suppress a major wildfire in Aragon. Authorities mobilized their largest firefighting resources to date to combat the blaze, which threatened a 1,000-year-old monastery. French firefighters were prepared to assist in containing the fire.
Portugal faced multiple wildfires, with hundreds of firefighters on the front lines. In one incident, a vehicle carrying five firefighters caught fire near the Spanish border, resulting in minor injuries. Other fires were also being fought near the Spanish border, including at Boticas and Chavez, according to the civil protection agency ANEPC.
Belgium's largest modern-day wildfire ignited near its border with Germany. Military helicopters, alongside farmers' tractors, provided water support to firefighters attempting to control the blaze, which had expanded from 80 hectares on Friday to nearly 3,000 hectares by Sunday. A partial evacuation was ordered in a border town due to the escalating danger.
Croatian authorities announced the arrest of four individuals suspected of igniting some of the wildfires, primarily affecting pine forests and olive groves in the Adriatic coastal region. The blazes were fueled by drought and extreme heat.
A fire that ravaged 1,700 hectares in France's Landes department was deemed stabilized after three days of ground and aerial operations. Local officials noted favorable conditions, with temperatures dropping to 28°C and humidity increasing. The first group of 650 evacuees could return home in the evening, as temperatures were predicted to reach 40°C during the fire's onset.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
