The forests are on fire in Sicily and other regions of Italy. Meteorologists expect up to 45 degrees in the coming days in Greece. In Turkey, emergency services have been fighting fire for days.
Catania – The Italian fire brigade continues to fight numerous forest fires in Sicily. On Friday, the emergency services moved up to the late afternoon 140 times because of the flames, as the fire brigade announced on Twitter.
Nationwide, the fire brigade spoke of a total of around 370 forest fire operations. The situation is also critical in Lazio, where the capital Rome is located, as well as in the regions of Apulia and Campania. A photo from a helicopter showed fires that had penetrated as far as the large city of Catania in eastern Sicily.
Thick billows of smoke drifted over the houses of the city at the foot of the Etna volcano. Catania Airport announced on Friday evening that flight operations would be temporarily suspended. According to the Ansa news agency, houses have been evacuated in the city.
The civil protection authority in Sicily predicted the highest fire risk level for eastern and northern Sicily on Saturday. The temperatures should therefore be a little below 40 degrees Celsius again. Fires have been blazing for days, especially in southern Italy and on the large islands. In addition to Sicily, western Sardinia is also particularly affected. Forests and houses burned down there. Rescue workers had to bring people to safety. Drought, heat and strong winds keep causing the fires to spread.
In Turkey, too, the operations against the numerous forest fires on the Mediterranean coast and other parts of the country have continued. Fires, the number of which usually occur over a long period of time, broke out within two days, said Bekir Pakdemirli, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, on Friday. Numerous fire operations have to be coordinated at the same time – this rarely happens. All helpers are very exhausted.
Since Wednesday, numerous fires had broken out in various places on the Mediterranean coast, which is popular with tourists. According to Fahrettin Altun, the Turkish President’s communications director, there were a total of 63 fires by Friday morning. On TV pictures, meter high flames, dark clouds and charred landscapes could be seen. According to official information, three people have been killed by the fires. Numerous people were injured, including a German.
A heat wave in Greece that has been going on since the beginning of the week is nearing its peak. It should be around 40 degrees on the weekend and even hotter in the new week. Meteorologists reckon with temperatures in central Greece of up to 45 degrees. At night, the values in the metropolitan areas will not fall below 30 degrees.
This heat wave is one of the longest in decades, said weather experts on state television. The temperatures should therefore only fall below 40 degrees during the day after August 8th.
The civil defense ordered that outdoor work be stopped or reduced as much as possible. Cities have opened air-conditioned halls for people who do not have air conditioning at home to find refuge in.
Doctors advised residents and tourists not to linger in the blazing sun and not to drink alcohol. You should shower more often and wear light, loose cotton clothing. dpa
