At least 3 dead and thousands displaced as wildfires rage across southern Europe

ATHENS, Greece — Wildfires escalated across southern Europe on Wednesday following a nightlong battle to safeguard the outskirts of Greece’s third-largest city, with additional casualties reported in Spain, Turkey, and Albania.

In the vicinity of the Greek port city of Patras, firefighters faced challenges in protecting residences and agricultural facilities as flames ravaged pine forests and olive groves. Massive columns of flames erupted behind apartment complexes on the city’s outskirts, while numerous vehicles were engulfed as flames advanced through a nearby impound lot.

“Today poses yet another significant challenge with the fire risk level remaining exceptionally high in many regions of the country,” stated Fire Service spokesperson Vassilis Vathrakoyiannis.

As aerial water-dropping units and helicopters soared above, local residents joined forces, combating the flames with makeshift tools or dousing them with water-filled buckets.

Firefighting resources were severely strained in several affected nations as they grappled with multiple fire outbreaks following prolonged heat waves and temperature spikes across the Mediterranean. On the island of Chios, exhausted firefighters rested by the roadside after a night-long operation.

Aircraft were deployed to combat fires on the western Greek mainland, in the Patras region, and on the island of Zakynthos. Additionally, Athens dispatched aid to neighboring Albania, contributing to an international effort to combat numerous wildfires. An 80-year-old individual perished in a blaze south of the capital, Tirana, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

Residents from four villages were evacuated in central Albania near a former military ammunition depot. In the southern Korca district, near the Greek border, explosions were heard from buried World War II-era artillery shells. Authorities noted that multiple residences were destroyed in a central region of the country.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez extended condolences following the passing of a firefighting volunteer in the heavily impacted Castile and León region north of Madrid, where thousands were displaced due to evacuations.

“The wildfire situation remains grave, and taking extra precautions is imperative,” Sánchez shared in an online statement. “I extend my gratitude, once again, to all those tirelessly combating the infernos.”

Evacuation centers reached full capacity in parts of central Spain, with some individuals spending the night outdoors on temporary beds. The most severe fires advanced northward into rural areas, prompting residents to hose down their homes in a bid to shield them from the encroaching flames.

The government heightened its national emergency response level, preparing additional aid for regional authorities managing multiple evacuations and road closures.

A forestry worker lost their life on Wednesday while responding to a wildfire in southern Turkey, officials disclosed. The Forestry Ministry stated that the worker perished in a fire truck-related accident that also left four others injured.

Turkey has been grappling with severe wildfires since late June, resulting in a total of 18 fatalities, including 10 rescue volunteers and forestry workers who succumbed in July.

In France, where the southern regions are recuperating from recent massive fires, temperatures reaching up to 42 degrees Celsius (108 Fahrenheit) were forecasted for the third consecutive day. Authorities issued weather advisories granting local officials the authority to cancel public events and cordon off high fire risk areas.

Authorities across European countries have pointed to various causes for the extensive fires, including negligent agricultural practices, poorly maintained power lines, and summer lightning storms.

Law enforcement in North Macedonia also indicated suspicions of arson, potentially instigated by rogue developers. Firefighters grappled with containing a blaze at a nature reserve near the capital, Skopje, on Wednesday.

The European Union swiftly dispatched aid to fire-affected countries, including non-member states, deploying ground crews and water-dropping aircraft. The focus of recent efforts was primarily on Montenegro, where significant wildfires persisted in rugged areas near the capital, Podgorica.

“Natural calamities do not recognize borders,” emphasized Ljuban Tmusic, head of Montenegro’s civil protection agency. “The resources at our disposal in Montenegro are evidently insufficient.” —- Semini reported from Tirana, Albania. Suman Naishadham in Madrid, Andrew Wilks in Istanbul, Sylvie Corbet in Paris, and Konstantin Testorides in Skopje, North Macedonia contributed.