There are forest fires in many regions of Italy, just like in Turkey. Meteorologists in Greece expect historic heat. Southern Europe groans under extreme heat.
Athens – Greece continues to experience a severe and prolonged heat wave.
After values around 43 degrees had been measured in places in the past three days, according to weather experts, the thermometers should show up to 46 degrees during the day on the weekend and the whole of the coming week. Also on Rhodes it should be hot next Tuesday with temperatures around 44 degrees. At night it stays hot, especially in the metropolitan areas, with temperatures above 30 degrees. Some meteorologists have already spoken of a “historic heat wave” on the radio.
The Greek civil defense was put on high alert after an emergency meeting late on Friday evening. Additional air-conditioned tents and containers were made available in the registration camps for migrants on the islands in the east of the Aegean. The cities opened air-conditioned halls for residents who do not have air conditioning at home. Working outdoors should be reduced as much as possible, the Ministry of Labor said. Animal welfare associations called on the residents to provide water for stray animals in shady places and to refill the water bowls over and over again.
Doctors advised everyone not to be in the blazing sun and not to drink alcohol. One should shower more often and wear light, loose cotton clothes. It was not clear on Saturday when the heat wave would subside. Some meteorologists feared this dangerous situation could last for up to two weeks.
Fire brigade in Italy in constant use
In Italy, the fire brigades are still on duty against the blazing forest fires. The fire brigade announced on Saturday morning via Twitter that the Vigili del Fuoco had more than 800 missions in the past 24 hours because of the forest fires. In Sicily alone, the rescuers deployed 250 times. In the east of the popular holiday islands, it burned on Friday at the gates of the coastal city of Catania. Thick smoke drifted over numerous apartment buildings.
Catania Airport had to temporarily cease operations. According to the Ansa news agency, the authorities brought about 150 people from the Catania area to safety, who were trapped in the flames and who fled to the beach. The police took them there on their boats. Pictures from the civil protection authority of Sicily showed how flames raged in a holiday complex on the beach near Catania and helicopters with extinguishing water tanks flew over them.
Sicily’s regional president Nello Musumeci wrote in a post on Facebook of “devastation” as a result of high temperatures. According to him, investigators discovered that arsonists were behind some of the fires. They are doing irreversible damage to the forest’s heritage and putting people at risk. According to Musumeci, the heat wave in Sicily should last until August 6th.
Highest fire risk level in Sicily
The civil protection authority predicted the highest fire risk level in the north and east of Sicily and temperatures just below 40 degrees for Saturday. The fires are also favored by the drought and strong winds. Also on the holiday island of Sardinia, flames recently caused great damage in the west.
In other parts of Italy, the fire brigade has also been called to numerous forest fire operations. 130 times in the regions of Apulia and Calabria, 90 times in Lazio, where the capital Rome is, and 70 times in Campania.
Fighting forest fires in Turkey
Turkish forces are fighting massive forest fires in the country for the fourth day in a row. Ten fires are still active, including three in the popular holiday region of Antalya, Forest Minister Bekir Pakdemirli announced on Twitter on Saturday. Of the total of 98 fires that broke out in numerous provinces since Wednesday, 88 are under control.
The fires raged particularly badly on the Turkish Mediterranean coast. Strong winds made it difficult to extinguish the fire. Many regions and hotels had been evacuated, and tourists were also brought to safety by boat.
The fires have so far claimed four lives. The cause is still unclear. Turkish authorities are investigating in all directions and are not ruling out arson. On the Turkish Mediterranean and Aegean coasts, intense heat of more than 40 degrees is expected in the next few days. dpa
