What's happened
Wildfires are raging through southern Europe, with Greece and Cyprus facing severe risks due to extreme heatwaves. Evacuations have been carried out in various regions, including a children's hospital and a retirement home in Patras. The fires have led to multiple injuries, destruction of homes, and significant firefighting efforts.
What's behind the headline?
What the papers say
According to Metro, wildfires originating from an air bubble from the Sahara desert have hit Europe, with temperatures soaring up to 44°C. The Independent reported on the evacuation of a children's hospital and a retirement home in Patras due to a large wildfire. Al Jazeera highlighted the challenging wildfire season in Greece, with fires breaking out in residential areas near Athens.
How we got here
Greece and Cyprus have been experiencing devastating wildfires due to hot, dry summers and extreme weather conditions. The deployment of foreign firefighting teams from Bulgaria, Malta, Moldova, and Romania reflects the severity of the situation and the need for additional support. The wildfires have been exacerbated by climate change, with hotter, drier, and windier conditions increasing the frequency and intensity of fires.
Go deeper
- What measures are being taken to contain the wildfires in Greece and Cyprus?
- How are the extreme weather conditions impacting other regions in Europe?
Common question
More on these topics
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Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, known also as Hellas, is a country located in Southeast Europe. Its population is approximately 10.7 million as of 2018; Athens, the nation's capital, is its largest city, followed by Thessaloniki.
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Athens, is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, with its recorded history spanning over 3,400 years and its earliest human presence started somewhere between the 11th and 7th m
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Kyriakos Mitsotakis is a Greek politician that is serving as Prime Minister of Greece since 8 July 2019. A member of New Democracy, he has been its president since 2016.
