Forest Fires in Europe: Thousands of Hectares Turned to Ashes

EUROPE is facing a new wave of forest fires due to the hot and dry weather that has been effective for weeks. Fire crews in Belgium, Spain, France and Greece are struggling to prevent the flames from reaching residential areas.

The fire that broke out in the Hautes Fagnes Nature Reserve on Belgium's border with Germany turned into the largest forest fire in the country's history. The flames, which started in an 80-hectare area on Friday, spread to approximately 3 thousand hectares within three days. More than 250 emergency personnel worked in the fire, and approximately 600 people were evacuated as the flames approached residential areas. Belgium activated the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism to fight fires. While Sweden sent two firefighting planes, helicopters from the Netherlands and the Czech Republic also participated in the work. Firefighters from Germany and Luxembourg also work together with Belgian teams.

PINE FORESTS TURNED TO ASH

Fires continue to affect different parts of Europe. Approximately 16,600 hectares of land were affected by the fire that has been going on for more than a week in the Aragon region of Spain. A soldier who helped extinguish the fire died. The fires that broke out in the pine forests on the Adriatic coast in Croatia spread rapidly due to the strong wind. The flames spread to coastal areas as well as some islands in the Adriatic Sea. Authorities reported that one person died, more than 40 people were injured and approximately a thousand hectares of land were reduced to ashes in the fires. While approximately 2,500 people were evacuated from the region, four people were detained in connection with the fires. Two people lost their lives in the fire that broke out on Salamina Island, near the capital Athens of Greece. The fire, which destroyed more than 1,700 hectares of land in the Landes region of southwestern France, was brought under control. Teams in Germany and England are also responding to fires in different regions.

GREECE

FRANCE

GERMANY

AUSTRIA