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Forest fires

Europe News

Underground fire: Blaze in German lignite mine cannot be extinguished

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Europe News

Greece issues code red wildfire alert for Ionian islands

The alert comes as Greece is at the height of the summer holiday season, with beaches packed with both domestic and international tourists.

USA

Tens of thousands evacuated as US wildfire nears western city of Reno

No deaths have been reported, but at least six people have been injured, including three first responders, with several mountaintop houses destroyed, according to local media.

Europe News

Merz visits Hürtgen Forest fire site, met with boos and whistles

Chancellor Friedrich Merz travelled to Hürtgenwald today, as firefighting in Belgium's High Fens continues. The blaze on the German border is out, but ahead of his visit he faced opposition criticism for 'doing nothing'.

Economy

Which European countries have the most firefighters?

Firefighters are becoming increasingly important as wildfires affect more countries across Europe. Firefighting capacity varies widely across the EU.

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Europe News

Fires rage in Europe as Belgium sees biggest blaze in recorded history

The fire in eastern Belgium doubled in size over 24 hours by Sunday morning. The EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated on Saturday, with three helicopters and two water-bombing aircraft arriving from Sweden, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic.

Europe News

At least 10 in intensive care and thousands flee wildfire in Croatia

During a visit to the area Prime Minister Andrej Plenković stressed the dangers of the fire and praised the efforts of the firefighters.

No Comment

France wildfire forces 525 people to flee as Landes forest burns

France evacuated about 500 people from the village of Luglon on Thursday, 13 August, as a fast-moving wildfire swept through drought-hit pine forest in the Landes.

No Comment

Wildfire forces evacuation of 1,000 as flames sweep Croatia’s coast

Croatia is battling a wildfire that swept through vegetation and homes in Lokva Rogoznica on Thursday, 13 August, forcing about 1,000 residents and tourists to evacuate.

Europe News

Tourists rescued by boat as forest fire threatens Greek beaches

A fire service spokesman said the evacuation had to be by sea as the flames were getting close to the beaches.

Europe News

Firefighters struggle to put out three wildfires in southwestern Spain

Europe has suffered a succession of heatwaves and droughts this year, which scientists say have been aggravated by human-generated climate change.

Space

Spain's Balearics face double whammy of eclipse tourists and wildfires

The Spanish government is deploying tens of thousands of soldiers, police officers and rescue workers to the Balearic Islands, as authorities brace for both a surge of eclipse tourists and a heightened risk of wildfires this week.

Europe News

Hundreds evacuate due to fires in Huelva and Castellón

Over 150 firefighters worked overnight to stabilise the Niebla blaze, west of Sevilla. The fire has burned 4,000 hectares and displaced nearly 400 people. Air crews reinforced the Tírig fire in Castellón, east coast of Spain, at daybreak.

Earth News

The beetle that hears fire: why it is so valuable to science

The black pine jewel beetle is drawn to forest fires. This seeming paradox actually aids woodland recovery and inspires new early wildfire detection tech.

EU.XL

Why the EU is betting on prevention in its new wildfire strategy

Europe's record-breaking wildfires forced the EU to rewrite its wildfire playbook, shifting its strategy and billions in funding from battling flames to preventing catastrophic fires before they start.

Europe News

Residents in Greece survey damage left by fires near Athens

According to an initial investigation by the fire service, the blaze started on Friday with a spark on power cables managed by a private company in Agios Vasileios.

EU.XL

EU deployed its biggest wildfire response. Is it what Europe needs?

As wildfires rage across southern Europe, the EU has deployed its largest shared firefighting force. But the crisis exposes a growing gap between emergency response and wildfire prevention. Watch the video.