Greece battles wildfires as heatwave rages across southern Europe

Firefighters are battling several wildfires in Greece as a scorching heatwave wreaks havoc across southern Europe.

In the past 24 hours alone, more than 152 new fires have broken out across Greece – and thousands of people have been evacuated. Around 4,850 firefighters are engaged in a multi-front battle to contain the flames.

At least three people have died in Spain, Albania and Turkey, with dozens more, inlcuding firefighters, taken to hospiitals with smoke inhalation and burns.

Temperatures surpassed 40C in several locations earlier this week, with record temperatures hitting France and Slovenia.

In Greece, thousands of people have been evacuated from the tourist islands of Chios and Zakynthos.

In the western Peloponnese, flames swept into the city of Patras overnight, destroying homes, businesses and vehicles.

On Zante, three separate fire fronts spanning more than 15km (9 miles) remain uncontained. Damage has been reported to homes, tourist facilities and farmland.

At least 13 firefighters have been treated for burns and other injuries, fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said on Wednesday, warning the conditions could become even more challenging in the coming days.

“Today, it will be another very difficult day, as the wildfire risk for most of the country’s regions will be very high,” Vathrakogiannis said.

Rescue boats have been evacuating beachgoers trapped by advancing flames on Chios and authorities have requested firefighting aircraft from other European Union countries.

In Spain, more than 4,000 people were evacuated overnight in the north-western province of León. A volunteer firefigher died in the same area.

An equestrian centre employee also died after suffering severe burns in Tres Cantos, near Madrid, where winds over 70km/h (43mph) drove flames near homes, forcing hundreds to flee.

The Spanish government has raised its national emergency response level.

“We are at extreme risk of forest fires. Please be very cautious,” Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said.

Elsewhere in Europe, heat alerts remain in place in France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and the Balkans, with temperatures expected to soar above 40C (104F) in some regions.

Slovenia reported its warmest ever night, with temperatures in one port not dropping below 28C.

One child died of heatstroke in Italy on Monday, where temperatures of 40C are expected to hit later this week. Red heat alerts were in place for at least 10 Italian cities, including Rome, Milan and Florence.

A four-year-old Romanian boy, who was found unconscious in a car in Sardinia was airlifted to a hospital in Rome but died due to irreversible brain damage, reportedly caused by heatstroke, medical authorities told AFP.

France’s Health Minister Catherine Vautrin said hospitals were braced for fallout from the country’s second heatwave in just a few weeks.

In Montenegro, a soldier died and another was seriously injured when their water tanker overturned while battling flames n the hills north of the capital, Podgorica.

In Portugal, firefighters battled three large wildfires, including a large blaze in Trancoso in the centre of the country.

Turkey has brought several major fires under control, including in Canakkale and Izmir, after hundreds were evacuated and the Dardanelles Strait and Canakkale airport were closed.

Parts of the UK are sweltering in its fourth heatwave of the year, with temperatures hitting 33C and amber and yellow heat health alerts in place for all of England.

Two grassfires broke out in the capital on Tuesday, one in Ealing and another in Wanstead Flats, burning more than 17 acres combined.

Scientists warn global warming is making Mediterranean summers hotter and drier, fuelling longer and more intense fire seasons.

Additional reporting by Nikos Papanikolaou.