Thousands evacuated as wildfires sweep through southern Albania amid heatwave

Wildfires in southern Albania have forced the evacuation of six villages and injured three people as extreme heat fuels blazes across the Balkans.

Albania’s Defence Ministry has ordered the urgent evacuation of several villages in the southern municipality of Delvine after wildfires threatened homes and lives on Friday. The fires, intensified by the region’s third major heatwave this summer, have led to the displacement of approximately 2,000 residents and left three people injured from burns and smoke inhalation.

The village of Vergo was among the hardest hit, with four fire engines, 60 members of the Armed Forces, and two Cougar helicopters deployed to suppress the blaze. Additional helicopters were engaged in nearby areas, including Berat-Dimal, as aerial operations expanded.

Delvina’s Deputy Mayor Brunilda Meleqi confirmed that six villages were cleared as a precaution, and the fire destroyed a church and ten uninhabited homes. 

Efforts to control the blaze continued into the evening, with authorities saying conditions improved after aerial reinforcements arrived.

The Defence Ministry emphasized that “the safety of residents is our utmost priority,” noting that all available resources were being utilized to manage what it described as a critical situation.

The fires come as Greece and the wider Balkan region grapple with record temperatures and widespread wildfires, causing work stoppages, tourist site closures, and immense strain on firefighting forces across the region.

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