Status: 08/10/2021 2:47 p.m.
There are currently devastating forest fires in several countries. The fires around the Mediterranean are not only very violent, but also particularly numerous. What is the situation like in the affected areas? An overview.
Greece
In Greece the big fires are north of Athensthat had threatened the capital in the past few days are now largely under control. On Monday, the emergency services there were mainly busy extinguishing small sources of fire that flared up again and again so that they would not spread again.
On the second largest Greek island Euboea The fires, however, continue to blaze uncontrollably. On Tuesday night, the fire brigade, residents and volunteers again managed to protect several places from the flames. However, the forest and agricultural land around the villages were burned, reported the Greek media.
According to the Geological Institute of the University of Athens, Evia is the worst affected by the disaster with around 51,000 hectares of burned forest. In all of Greece, the researchers reckon with 90,000 hectares that are in ashes. For comparison: According to the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food, forest fires burned 368 hectares in Germany last year.
There is only little hope that the situation on Euboea will improve. On the one hand, so much has been burned that the fire goes out by itself in places because the flames can no longer find any food. On the other hand, most of the other fires in the country are now under control and the emergency services can concentrate on Evia. Another positive factor is that there was no strong wind in the region on Tuesday that could have additionally heated the flames.
On the peninsula Peloponnese the particularly large fires on Monday could also be kept in check. But there is no all-clear; as soon as the wind picks up, the surrounding regions are again extremely endangered. According to the geologists of the University of Athens, in the local region of the ancient Olympia 10,000 hectares have already been burned.
Fires in Europe as of August 10, 2021
Italy
In Italy, civil protection continues to receive numerous requests from the Italian regions for air support in the fight against forest fires. The fire-fighting planes and helicopters mostly flew over burning areas in southern Italy on Monday Calabria, on the island Sicily and in Lazio, where the capital Rome is located, as the civil protection authority announced. The fire brigade brought five fires under control or extinguished them.
The civil protection authority reiterated that the majority of the fires were triggered by careless behavior or willful intent. A commander of the Carabinieri unit for forest protection told the Ansa news agency that there are currently 70 fires raging in Italy, mainly in Apulia, Sicily and Calabria. In places, the situation there is still critical, for example in Calabria Aspromonte National Parkwhose administration asked for aerial assistance to contain the flames.
Due to the extreme heat, the emergency services are on high alert on Tuesday and Wednesday. In Sicily and Sardiniawhere the fires caused considerable damage to agriculture, especially in the western part of the island, The civil protection department reckoned up to 45 degrees Celsius in some cases, and meteorologists are predicting a heat wave for large parts of the country.
Turkey
The situation in Turkey has eased somewhat in the meantime – most of the fires are under control, according to official information. More than 200 fires had broken out in Turkey since the end of July, including 16 major forest fires. More than half of the 81 provinces were affected.
The fire in the coastal provinces is particularly devastated Antalya and Mugla arranged. According to local authorities, more than 66,000 hectares of land were burned in Mugla alone. It is estimated that around 150,000 hectares of land (1500 square kilometers) were destroyed – an area almost three times the size of Lake Constance. The cause of the fire is being investigated further.
There is still no all-clear in the district Köycegiz. Strong winds fueled a fire there. Flames and smoke shot up, as seen on TV images. The mountainous terrain made it difficult for the emergency services to fight the fire from the land. Helicopters and fire-fighting planes were in action.
Experts in Turkey continue to urge caution. It should also be very hot and dry in the next few days. The risk of fire remains high.
Algeria
At least seven people were killed in forest fires in Algeria. Interior Minister Kamel Beldjoud announced that around 50 fires have broken out in northern Algeria since Monday evening, most of them in the Kabylia, a heavily forested and densely populated mountain region east of the capital Algiers.
“Unfortunately, we have seven deaths to mourn,” said Beldjoud, according to a television report, during a visit to the affected city Tizi Ouzou. Six people died in the area around Tizi Ouzou and another in Setif.
The minister blamed arsonists for the fires. “It is impossible for 50 fires to break out at the same time,” said Beldjoud. “These fires are criminal in nature.” The state broadcaster reported the arrest of two suspected arsonists in Médéa in northern Algeria, where there was also a fire.
According to the civil defense, the fire brigade fought against 31 fires in 14 administrative districts in northern Algeria alone. There were four more fires in Jijel in the east of the country. The towns of Bouira, Khenchela, Guelma, Bejaïa, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Boumerdès, Tiaret, Tébessa, Blida and Skikda were also affected.
The forest fires occur in the midst of the sweltering summer heat, and water supplies are becoming scarce. The main dam in the region, Taksebt, has practically dried up. The weather service predicted temperatures of 42 degrees for Tuesday and Wednesday.