Firefighters are tackling multiple wildfires across Greece, with blazes threatening towns near western city of Patras and on the islands of Chios and Zakynthos, forcing thousands of residents and tourists to evacuate from their homes.
The blazes began on Tuesday, and have destroyed homes, farmland and industrial sites, according to authorities.
Public broadcaster ERT reported dozens of hospitalisations from smoke inhalation, while 13 firefighters have been treated for burns and other injuries.
Nearly 5,000 firefighters and 33 aircraft have been deployed since early Wednesday to contain the spread. Authorities have said that hot, dry conditions and strong winds have complicated the response, with temperatures forecast to reach 34°C (93°F) in some regions.
In Patras, flames reached a cement factory after sweeping through olive groves and forests, disrupting nearby rail services.
“It looks like doomsday,” said volunteer firefighter Giorgos Karavanis, who travelled from Athens to assist.
Evacuation alerts were issued for a town of 7,700 people near Patras and for two nearby villages. On Chios, the coast guard evacuated people by boat as the fire advanced to the shoreline.
The crisis in Greece follows a string of wildfires across southern Europe amid a summer heatwave. Spain, Portugal, Türkiye and the Balkans have faced similar conditions, with Albania and Montenegro reporting widespread property losses in the past week.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Washington next week as tensions continue to rise across the Mid...
Brazil has denied visa requests for two Trump administration officials who planned to travel to the country to cast doubt on the integrity of its elec...
A journey into one of the darkest chapters of the Baltic states' history. ...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 24th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Russian authorities said 11 people, including four children, had been killed by Ukraine in an overnight attack on a holiday camp, accusing Kyiv on Saturday of deliberately targeting civilians.
The U.S. military said it completed a fresh wave of strikes on Iran late on Thursday, marking the 13th consecutive night of American attacks. The latest operation lasted more than two hours, according to U.S. Central Command.
Spain has declared a national emergency and evacuated more than 10,000 people after uncontrolled wildfires reached the outskirts of Madrid. Emergency crews have rescued residents as multiple blazes continue to spread across the region.
Six candidates vying to become the next United Nations Secretary-General have called for restoring the organisation's credibility, strengthening multilateralism and reforming the UN, during the first public town hall debate ahead of a decisive Security Council vote next week.
Brazil has denied visa requests for two Trump administration officials who planned to travel to the country to cast doubt on the integrity of its electoral system, two Brazilian officials with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
Russian authorities said 11 people, including four children, had been killed by Ukraine in an overnight attack on a holiday camp, accusing Kyiv on Saturday of deliberately targeting civilians.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Washington next week as tensions continue to rise across the Middle East.
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto recently offered the dismissed Ukraine’s Defence Minister, Mykhailo Federov an adviser role in Italy.
Romania said on Saturday that it had shot down a second drone after it entered the country's airspace in as many days.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment