In Greece, two further deaths were reported by the media on Wednesday, whilst wildfires continue to ravage several other Mediterranean countries due to a new heatwave that began on Tuesday. The situation in the region remains a cause for concern.
On Wednesday, another wave of sweltering heat hit Greece and other tourist destinations in the Mediterranean region, fuelling the wildfires that have already caused considerable human and environmental damage.
Five people have died in Greece since the fires began
The death toll in Greece has risen to five. Following the three deaths reported on Tuesday – including two pilots of a Canadair aircraft who died in an accident – the Greek media have announced the deaths of two further people.
A woman has been found dead in a campervan, with burns to her body, in a coastal area near Volos, in the prefecture of Magnesia (Thessaly region), according to reports from the public broadcaster ERT. In addition, a livestock farmer was found dead, having been burnt, in the same region, in Agios Georgios, according to local media reports. The situation remains critical and is causing great concern throughout the region.
On Wednesday, the Greek authorities took the urgent decision to order the evacuation of the outskirts of two towns in central Greece, Volos (population 85,000) and Lamia (population 60,000), following a new fire front that broke out during the day. The situation is extremely worrying and the emergency services have been mobilised to deal with this crisis.
Meanwhile, thousands of tourists have already been evacuated from the islands of Rhodes and Corfu, which have been devastated by fires fuelled by the intense heatwave. The heatwave has created conditions conducive to the rapid spread of the flames, putting residents and visitors in these tourist regions at risk. The authorities are working tirelessly to ensure public safety and bring the fires under control.
On the island of Rhodes, 266 firefighters, supported by three helicopters and two aeroplanes, are still working to contain the flames. The fire continues to rage for the ninth consecutive day, posing a major challenge to the emergency services. Last weekend, thousands of tourists were evacuated for their own safety as the fires spread.
As for Corfu, 62 firefighters, two aeroplanes and two helicopters are currently deployed on the ground to tackle the fire, which also broke out last weekend. The situation remains critical and requires a concerted effort to contain the flames and protect the island’s residents and visitors. The authorities remain vigilant in their efforts to bring these devastating fires under control.
Three dead in Italy
In Sicily, three people have sadly lost their lives as a result of the fires that have ravaged the region. Meanwhile, in northern Italy, five people were killed during violent storms. The damage caused by the fires and storms is so extensive that the government is considering declaring a state of emergency in the worst-affected regions. The situation is critical and requires the authorities’ immediate attention and a swift response to protect those affected.
Croatia, Corsica, Portugal and Algeria have also been affected
On Wednesday, a fire broke out near Dubrovnik in Croatia, threatening this historic and popular tourist destination.
In Corsica, in south-eastern France, firefighters battled a fierce blaze throughout the night, but the situation was improving on Wednesday morning.
In Portugal, where fires had already consumed more than 110,000 hectares last year, eight firefighters were injured and hundreds more remained on duty on Wednesday to prevent the spread of a forest fire that broke out the previous day near the tourist resort of Sintra.
The violent fires that raged in north-eastern Algeria were finally brought under control on Wednesday, but they have left a trail of tragedy in their wake. A total of 34 people have sadly lost their lives as a result of these devastating fires. The Toudja region was particularly hard hit, with 16 people burnt alive whilst trying to flee the flames.