Firefighters were engaged in combating wildfires in multiple regions, including three provinces in Turkey, Greece, and close to a tourist spot in Albania. The fires, fueled by strong winds following days of intense heat across the Mediterranean area, presented significant challenges.
In Turkey, a wildfire persisted for a sixth day in the mountainous Black Sea province of Karabuk, prompting the evacuation of over a dozen villages and causing extensive forest destruction. Tragically, three firefighters lost their lives in the northwestern province of Bursa due to a vehicle crash. Additionally, more than 3,600 individuals were evacuated from settlements in the southern provinces of Mersin and Antalya as crews battled two separate fires.
Turkey has faced numerous wildfires in recent weeks amid soaring temperatures, with ten firefighters perishing last week while combating a blaze in the central Eskisehir province. The Mediterranean region experiences hot and dry summers traditionally, but the escalation of heatwaves has contributed to more severe wildfires in recent years due to rising global temperatures.
Greece reported 44 wildfires within a 24-hour period, with ongoing challenges on the southern island of Kythera due to reignited fires and swift containment efforts near Mount Hymettus in Athens. Evacuations in several Greek villages occurred over the weekend, with five individuals sustaining injuries in separate incidents.
In Serbia, rainy weather aided firefighters in controlling over 100 wildfires as Greece faced its third summer heatwave. Albania witnessed over 900 firefighters, supported by the military, battling a wildfire to prevent its spread towards the coastal city of Saranda and other tourist destinations along the Ionian coast. Law enforcement detained 13 individuals on suspicion of arson-related offenses in the past three days.
Collaborative efforts involving Bulgaria and other European nations were deployed to combat a substantial wildfire near the Bulgarian-Turkish border, which has affected nearly 6,500 hectares thus far. Authorities have apprehended two individuals for investigation into the fire’s cause, as reported by local media.
