Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
A fire that broke out on Saturday on the Mediterranean coast in the French department of Aude was still spreading Sunday morning. The flames have consumed 610 hectares and severely damaged two homes, according to the prefecture.
Rémi Récieux, deputy prefect of Aude, stated that more than 630 firefighters have been deployed to extinguish the blaze. They hope to successfully control the blaze today, after relying on two firefighting planes and helicopters starting at 9:30 a.m. Winds of up to 80 kilometers per hour are expected, which will complicate the extinguishing operation. On Saturday, two homes in Séguin were severely damaged by the flames, one of which was almost completely destroyed.
All residents and about 1,000 tourists who were evacuated to Porte la Neuville as a precaution were able to return to their homes and campsites Saturday evening. Wildfires ravage southern Europe: Homes threatened in France, hundreds of fires in Sicily, and smoke reaching Athens.
According to European media reports in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, southern Europe is experiencing massive wildfires. A wildfire in southern France has spread rapidly across 100 hectares, hundreds of fires are burning in Sicily, and in Greece, a wildfire is approaching the capital, Athens.
According to media reports in Brussels, a wildfire broke out in Seguin, in the Aude department in southern France, on Saturday afternoon and quickly spread across 100 hectares. The flames have destroyed at least one home and are approaching several others. The deputy prefect of Aude told AFP that residents of about ten other homes have been evacuated. Around 300 firefighters are battling the blaze, and firefighting planes and helicopters are being deployed.
The Italian island of Sicily is also suffering from hundreds of wildfires. On Friday, local authorities counted "380 fires, both large and small." As a precaution, about 50 homes in the city of Trapani were evacuated. According to Italian media, the Sicilian regional government confirms that it is doing everything possible to limit the damage.
Extreme heat and strong winds in parts of the island are complicating firefighting efforts. Thousands of firefighters and volunteers are trying to control the blazes. Ten firefighting helicopters and several firefighting planes are also being deployed. Sicily is receiving assistance from the mainland, the Calabria region.
Media reports quoted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as saying, "Turkey is facing a real catastrophe" as the devastating wildfires rage across southern Europe. A wildfire is burning in a forest area near the village of Kavuslar, in the Karabük province of northwestern Turkey. "I am deeply shocked by the images of devastation caused by the fires," said the president of the Sicilian region, Renato Schifani. He added that some of the fires were deliberately set. Three large wildfires in Greece. Greek firefighters were also battling several large wildfires on Saturday. According to Greek media, a fire north of Athens, near the village of Kryioneri, is extremely dangerous. Two villages in this densely populated area have so far been evacuated. Thick smoke is already rising over the Athens city center, located about 25 kilometers away. Also at risk are a large fire west of the island of Euboea, near the village of Nea Artaki, a forest and brush fire in the southwest of the Peloponnese, and a fire on the island of Kythera. Other reports have indicated massive wildfires in Spain and France: More than 1,000 firefighters are deployed to combat the blazes. One problem is that due to the Due to the current high risk of wildfires in large parts of the country, emergency services are widely stretched, according to the fire brigade. Large blazes, such as those near Athens, are consuming firefighters, making it difficult to extinguish new blazes. The risk of wildfires in Greece will remain extremely high on Sunday due to the ongoing drought, high temperatures, and strong winds.
Greece has requested European Union assistance to combat wildfires that have broken out in various regions, where a prolonged heatwave has brought temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius (115 degrees Fahrenheit) and gusts of wind have fanned the flames.
Fire brigade spokesman Vathrakougiannis said the winds have fanned massive blazes near Athens and other areas, including the Peloponnese peninsula west of the capital, and on the islands of Crete, Euboea, and Kythira. He warned in a press briefing: "The hard part is ahead."
Several areas were under the highest alert level—red category 5—meaning a high risk of wildfires due to the hot and dry conditions.
The fire brigade spokesman said: "Fifty-two fires broke out in various regions in the past 24 hours alone, 44 of which were immediately dealt with in the initial phase."
Vathrakogiannis said that Greece has requested European assistance through the EU rescue mechanism, requesting six firefighting aircraft to support firefighting efforts.
Local media reports indicate that firefighting units from the Czech Republic are already operating as part of the European assistance.