At least eight people pronounced dead as wildfires spread across new areas in Europe in heatwave bringing temperatures above 40C.
Italy
At least five people were wounded while dozens of tourists were evacuated after
wildfires devastated a pine tree near a beach in Pescara, Italy, as blazes sweep the country.
A five-year-old girl was among the reported injured.
Italy’s national fire service has reported more than 800 flare-ups this weekend.
“We had to evacuate several homes and beach resorts due to the smoke,” said Carlo Masci,
the mayor of Pescara. “The biggest problem is the hot wind. We are doing the best we can to limit the damage.”
“In the last 24 hours, firefighters have carried out more than 800 interventions: 250 in Sicily, 130 in Puglia and Calabria, 90 in Lazio and 70 in Campania,” the service tweeted.
Greece
Wildfires have also broken out across Greece, dealing with one of the most severe heat
waves in decades, forcing hundreds to evacuate.
Nearly 300 firefighters fought through the night to contain the fire early on August 1.
According to the national fire service, several pine and olive trees were burned while a number of homes and beach settlements were damaged.
Turkey
At least three people died in a forest fire in southern Turkey, where authorities are still
fighting to put down multiple blazes for the second consecutive day.
Efforts to bring the fire under control continue with official investigations into the cause, amid suspicions of arson.
Around 20 villages were evacuated, and 50 people were taken to the hospital.
Three lives were taken in Antalya and 1 in Mugla.
While the origin of the fires is still being investigated, the hot and dry conditions didn’t help.
The fires also led to mass deaths of livestock in rural areas while locals struggled to lead their herds to safety.
Mayor of Marmaris, Mehmet Oktay, said he couldn’t rule out ‘sabotage’.
Turkey’s Agriculture and Forestry Minister
Bekir Pakdemirli urged the public against relying on nonofficial information, emphasising that official investigations are underway.
“Judicial and law enforcement authorities continue their investigation into the cause of the fires. A statement will be made once important findings are uncovered.”
