Britain and France in Focus: Entire Areas Under Real Threat
Widespread wildfires hit several European countries on Thursday and Friday morning, causing damage and evacuating thousands. In Britain, a fire in Stourbridge damaged six homes, a child and three firefighters were taken to hospital, and over 60 firefighters were called in. In Germany, about 1,800 residents were evacuated from the village of Gay after a forest fire approached within 400 meters. In France, more than 300 residents and tourists were evacuated by boats from the Sithonia area in Greece. In Croatia, a huge fire reached Omis, at least 19 were treated and two were hospitalized in serious condition. In Spain, a fire consumed nearly 20,000 hectares, and about 500 were evacuated. The European Commission warned of extreme fire danger until Wednesday.
Widespread wildfires hit several European countries on Thursday (August 13) and Friday morning (August 14), causing damage, injuries, and the evacuation of thousands of residents. In Britain, the most severe hotspot was in Stourbridge in the West Midlands, where a fire damaged six homes, a child and three firefighters were taken to hospital, and six others were treated for smoke inhalation. More than 60 firefighters were called to the scene, and residents were evacuated. The fire occurred on the hottest day of the year, with 38.1 degrees Celsius recorded at Kew Gardens in London. Fire chief Simon Tuhill described the events as the most significant for the area. In Germany, about 1,800 residents were evacuated from the village of Gay in North Rhine-Westphalia after a forest fire approached within 400 meters. In France, more than 300 residents and tourists were evacuated by boats from the Sithonia area in the Chalkidiki peninsula in Greece, with over 140 firefighters, nine planes, and seven helicopters involved. In Croatia, a huge fire reached the resort town of Omis, at least 19 people were treated, and two were transferred to a hospital in Split in serious condition. Hundreds were evacuated, and a sports hall accommodated about a thousand people. In Spain, a fire near Niebla consumed nearly 20,000 hectares, and about 500 residents were evacuated. According to Reuters, more than 2.5 million dunams have burned in the country this year. The European Commission warned of extreme fire danger conditions until next Wednesday.