World
Balkans battle wildfires from prolonged heatwave in Europe
Experts say it’s time to act to avoid more climate-based disasters across Europe and urge European leaders to address the concerning trends in weather across the continent.
Ongoing heat waves have triggered fires throughout the Balkans and southern Europe, with countries such as Bulgaria and Albania currently receiving international firefighting aid through an EU support system.
Serbia has sent helicopters to North Macedonia to help combat wildfires that continue to burn out of control in heatwave temperatures in the landlocked Balkan country.
Firefighting helicopters were also being used on the slopes of Mount Kozjak, near the Prohor Pcinjski monastery in South Serbia.
Large wildfires in parts of North Macedonia this week destroyed and damaged homes, forced evacuations and claimed the life of an elderly resident in a village some 60 kilometres east of the capital Skopje.
Strong winds accelerated the spread of wildfires in parts of eastern and central North Macedonia since Monday, officials said.
Wildfires continued to burn in Albania on Wednesday, coming close to homes in the southern village of Mashkullore, but causing no damage.
Hundreds of Albanian firefighters, military personnel and volunteers managed to get a major fire in the coastal town of Shengjin under control after it damaged a roof and two beach bars, sending visitors fleeing in panic.
An Albanian army Cougar helicopter and two Italian Canadair planes, part of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, helped spare the beach town from the flames.
In Croatia, fires that erupted in the Dalmation coast also forced residents to evacuate but no casualties were reported.
According to the Croatian emergency services, 755 firefighters were deployed to 122 different fires in Croatia, with the help of 10 Canadair planes.
The Croatian fire brigade confirmed that fires in all areas had been successfully contained as of Thursday.
Extreme heat continues to scorch other parts of Europe as well, with nine municipalities across Spain under orange warnings for high temperatures.
Experts say it’s time to act to avoid more climate-based disasters across Europe and urge European leaders to address the concerning trends in weather across the continent.