Two firefighters have died battling a wildfire in Crete as gale-force winds and extreme heat drive blazes across Southern Europe, forcing the evacuation of several villages.
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Key facts
- Two firefighters died tackling a wildfire in Crete, according to the Greek fire department.
- Gale-force winds have whipped up the flames, prompting the evacuation of several villages on the island.
- Fires stretch from the Atlantic coast to the eastern Mediterranean, and from the Scottish Highlands to southern Spain, the Guardian reports.
- Extreme heat is hindering efforts to control blazes across Southern Europe.
- Experts warn the fires are becoming harder to quell.
Two firefighters have been killed while tackling a wildfire on the Greek island of Crete, the Greek fire department has said, as parts of Southern Europe continue to battle blazes driven by extreme heat and strong winds.
Gale-force winds have whipped up the flames, prompting the evacuation of several villages on the island, according to the BBC. The deaths mark the latest toll in a summer of wildfires across the region.
According to the Guardian, extreme heat is hindering efforts to control the fires ravaging Southern Europe. The newspaper reported that the arc of brutal fires runs from the Atlantic coast to the eastern Mediterranean, and from the Scottish Highlands to the south of Spain.
The scale and spread of the blazes has alarmed experts, the Guardian said, because many of the fires have been out of control and burning close to towns and cities.
Repeated heatwaves and strong winds have added to the concern of experts, who warn that the fires are becoming harder to quell. The combination of high temperatures and powerful winds has made containment efforts increasingly difficult across the affected countries.
Why it matters
Wildfires driven by extreme heat and strong winds are placing lives, homes and emergency crews at risk across a wide stretch of Europe. The deaths of two firefighters underline the growing danger, while experts' warnings that such blazes are becoming harder to control point to worsening conditions during the region's summers.
Frequently asked questions
Where did the two firefighters die?
The two firefighters died while tackling a wildfire on the Greek island of Crete, according to the Greek fire department.
What is driving the wildfires?
Gale-force winds have whipped up the flames in Crete, while extreme heat is hindering efforts to control blazes across Southern Europe, according to the BBC and the Guardian.
How widespread are the fires?
According to the Guardian, the fires stretch from the Atlantic coast to the eastern Mediterranean, and from the Scottish Highlands to the south of Spain.
Timeline
- Three Greek firefighters die as wildfires threaten parts of southern Europe
BBC World: Gale-force winds on Crete have whipped up flames prompting the evacuation of several villages, as parts of the continent continue to tackle fires.
- Two firefighters die in Crete as wildfires threaten parts of Southern Europe
BBC World: Gale-force winds have whipped up the flames prompting the evacuation of several villages, in the latest summer wildfire in Southern Europe.
- Two firefighters die in Crete as wildfires threaten parts of southern Europe
BBC World: Gale-force winds have whipped up the flames prompting the evacuation of several villages on the island, as parts of the continent also continue to tackle fires.
- Two firefighters killed in Crete as southern Europe battles wildfires
The Guardian World: Repeated heatwaves and strong winds alarm experts, who warn blazes are becoming harder to quell Two firefighters have died while tackling a wildfire in Crete, the Greek fire department has said, as extreme heat hinders efforts to control blazes ravaging southern Europe. The arc o