The scorching hot and dry summer continued its firm hold today as wildfires continued to rage in regions of Greece and France.
Europe has been experiencing rapid warming, heating up at a rate more than double the global average since the 1980s, as reported by the European Union’s Copernicus climate service.
The rising temperatures and extended dry spell have left vegetation parched and highly flammable, facilitating faster spread of fires.
West of Athens, wildfires breached containment lines following a helicopter collision that resulted in the death of two crew members, while a British national working for the Greek firefighting service survived the crash and is expected to be discharged from the hospital soon after a successful recovery.
In France, firefighters in the vicinity of Bordeaux remained vigilant against potential resurgence of flames in an area four times larger than Paris that was still ablaze.
The Athens region continues to face high risk with numerous evacuations underway. Strong winds have returned to southern Greece, driving flames towards residential areas in the mountains, resulting in destruction of farms and properties, and closure of a major highway.
Areas surrounding the Greek capital remain on high alert throughout the week, with temperatures expected to climb further. Over 1,000 individuals have been evacuated from the vicinity of Porto Germeno and other western areas of Athens, with more than 250 people rescued by boats from coastal areas.
Yiannis Artopios, a spokesperson for the Fire Service, described the ongoing fire as challenging, with a significant firefighting effort involving 12 water-dropping planes and 11 helicopters in the area. The blaze was attributed to a faulty power line from a wind farm, leading to the arrest of two contractors on charges of negligent arson.
Authorities reported 33 arrests from June 29 to Aug. 2 in connection with starting fires, with the majority being due to negligence related to activities like farming despite local bans, such as welding.
Fire crews have been working tirelessly from dawn, as winds usually intensify in the afternoon. The army has deployed tracked earth movers to create firebreaks on the scorched hillsides, while specialized units have been dispatched on foot into forested areas to extinguish embers before they can reignite.
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