As a heatwave sweeps through Southern Europe and parts of the Middle East, causing evacuations and emergency alerts, countries across the Mediterranean are battling fast-spreading wildfires and soaring temperatures.
On Sunday, blazing blazes broke out in Greece, Turkiye, France, and Syria, and several other countries were also on high alert as weather forecasters warned that the scorching weather would get worse.
Authorities from Spain to Italy urged people to avoid unnecessary travel during the region’s first severe summer heatwave.
Meteorologists warned that extreme heat events, which are being exacerbated by climate change, are getting more frequent and intense, while emergency teams and ambulances were stationed close to well-known tourist destinations.
In western Turkiye, strong winds sparked wildfires that erupted on Sunday in the province of Izmir. The blaze was fought with aircraft-supported firefighters. Five neighborhoods in the Seferihisar district were reportedly vacated as a precaution, according to local authorities.
Over 600 fires have been fought over the past week in the drought-stricken nation, according to authorities.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported on Friday that Turkish authorities had detained 10 suspects in connection with wildfires that have erupted all over the nation over the past week.
In the western coastal province of Izmir, at least three people were killed by wildfires.
In Dortyol, a coastal area in Hatay province, firefighters were still attempting to contain a blaze.
In addition, in southern Evia, more than 160 firefighters, 46 fire trucks, and five aircraft were stationed in Greece to battle the blaze.
According to officials, the fire started late on Friday and sprang through two villages as forested areas burned. Near Athens, fires also broke out.
In the southwest of France, where the temperatures soared above 40C (104F), wildfires erupted. A historic abbey and a campsite were razed.
On Monday, Meteo France issued orange-level heat alerts for 84 of the country’s 101 departments.
Temperatures in parts of Extremadura and Andalusia reportedly reached 44C (111F), according to the national weather agency AEMET in Spain.
Diego Radames, a 32-year-old photographer in Madrid, told the AFP news agency, “I feel that the heat we’re experiencing is not normal for this time of year.” “Madrid just keeps getting hotter.”
Rome, Milan, and Naples are among the 21 cities Italy placed in the red zone, along with other significant ones. According to Mario Guarino of the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine, heatstroke cases increased by 10%.
Portugal also experienced extreme weather, with a red warning for the city’s capital until Monday night. Extreme heat and wildfires were high on the national radar in the other third of the nation.
Firefighters alone on Sicily’s island island battled 15 fires on Saturday.
Scientists warn that the heat is getting worse due to climate change.
Source: Aljazeera
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