Wildfires rage in Greece and Turkey as extreme heat persists

Greece and Turkey are both facing serious wildfires as a dangerous heatwave continues to affect the region. In Greece, firefighters are battling five major wildfires across the country. The heat is extreme, with temperatures expected to reach up to 44 degrees Celsius. The main focus for firefighters is on two large fires on the islands of Kythira and Evia. According to a fire brigade spokesman, the situation improved a bit after a long night of fighting the flames, but the risk of new fires starting is still very high.

In Turkey, the situation is also very serious. The country has just recorded its highest temperature ever, 50. 5 degrees Celsius, in the city of Silopi. Fires are burning in several regions, and the forestry minister said it could take several days to get them under control. In the northern Karabuk province, firefighters have been working for four days to stop a fire. Sadly, ten people died fighting a fire in Eskisehir last week. Some areas, like the resort town of Cesme, have put restrictions on water use because of the fires.

High winds are making the fires worse in Greece. The country has asked the European Union for help, requesting six firefighting planes. The climate crisis and civil protection minister said that firefighters have been injured, people’s lives are at risk, homes have burned, and forests have been destroyed. On Kythira, a fire started in the village of Pitsinades and spread quickly, affecting about 20 percent of the island. New evacuation orders were given on Sunday, and firefighters are still working to control the flames with helicopters and water-bombing planes. On Evia, a fire near Pissona got out of control, sending six firefighters to the hospital and leaving some villages without power. Local officials said things looked a bit better on Sunday, but strong winds could cause more flare-ups.

In Messinia, a third wildfire broke out in the Polithea area and got worse during the day, damaging homes and farmland. In Attica, the region around Athens, a fire started in Afidnes and spread quickly, forcing people to leave their homes. The main part of the fire has been contained, but smaller fires are still burning. The smell of smoke reached central Athens, and Greece has asked the European Union for more help. In Crete’s Chania region, firefighters are battling a 20-kilometer wildfire that has burned forests, beehives, crops, and livestock. Strong winds are making it hard to control the fires, and some villages have lost electricity. Last month, a fire on the island of Chios destroyed 4,700 hectares of land, and earlier in July, a fire in Crete forced 5,000 tourists to evacuate. The wildfires are causing major problems for people, animals, and the environment in both Greece and Turkey.