At least one dead as wildfires spread across Europe with Mount Vesuvius closed in Italy & French vineyards turned to ash

The Irish Sun

3 days ago

AT LEAST one person has died as terrifying wildfires sweep across Greece and spread across Europe.
Up to 16,000 acres of land has been decimated in the Keratea region, south of Athens, in the latest fires ripping through the Mediterranean.
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Flames and smoke rise from burning trees while firefighters continue their efforts to extinguish the fires near the Komotini, Greece
Credit: Getty
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A terrifying fire has ripped along the eastern slope of Mount Vesuvius, within the National Park
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
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In Portugal, people have been seen trying to extinguish the flames of a burning patch of grass during a forest fire in Sao Pedro e Santa Maria, Trancoso
Credit: EPA
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Much of southern France's vineyards were left scorched alongside homes
Credit: AFP
An elderly man was found dead inside his bed by firefighters who have been tirelessly battling against the numerous blazes.
This is now the third consecutive day of wildfires in the region, according to the National Observatory in Athens.
They have warned high winds have been fanning the flames will persist until at least Monday.
More than 260 firefighters with nearly 80 fire engines along with 12 aircraft were deployed near Keratea.
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Dimitris Loukas, mayor of the city of nearby Lavrio, said the Keratea fire destroyed dozens of homes, agriculture and forest land.
Over in Italy, brave firefighters tackled a wildfire which was quickly heading towards Mount Vesuvius National Park.
Officials ordered all the hiking routes up the volcano near Naples were immediately closed to tourists as a precaution.
Billowing clouds of smoke could be seen from the Pompeii archeological site.
The national fire service said 12 teams have been on the ground alongside six Canadair planes to fight the blaze since August 8.
Officials have voiced concerns over the fires heading towards Mount Vesuvius due to its location.
France fires scorch area 'larger than Paris' as 'unprecedented' blaze kills 1 and rips through idyllic villages
Italo Giulivo, head of the region's civil protection department, said: "The firefighting efforts are particularly delicate due to both the weather conditions -- high temperatures and wind -- and the pine needles, which contribute to the spread of the flames."
Italy's biggest agricultural association Coldiretti added that the fires were "an enormous disaster" for vineyards and farms.
The local prosecutors' office has opened an investigation into the cause of the fire.
France was also hit with soaring flames over the weekend.
Around 1,400 firefighters were deployed Saturday in the southern Aude region to prevent the country's largest wildfire in decades from reemerging.
Locals have been slowly returning to their homes since Thursday after 62 square miles of land was scorched across the week.
Aude prefect Christian Pouget announced the worst hit areas were the popular vineyards in the area.
Pictures show the devastating aftermath with the wineries reduced to piles of ash.
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A firefighting helicopter sprays water over a burnt area following a wildfire in Palaia Fokaia, Greece
Credit: AFP
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Dozens of blazes have erupted in Greece
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A plane drops water over a fire that broke in Galicia, northwestern Spain
Credit: EPA
And with Monday forecast to be the "hottest day nationwide", according to national weather service Meteo France, further disruptions are expected.
In Portugal, people have been seen trying to extinguish the flames of a burning patch of grass during a forest fire in Sao Pedro e Santa Maria, Trancoso.
The fire in Trancoso caused officials to mobilise eight helicopters and more than 300 firefighters.
The most deadly of the European fires have come from Turkey.
At least 17 people have been killed in the apocalyptic wildfires as record-breaking 50C heat and howling winds fuel devastation across the eastern Mediterranean.
The infernos have forced more than 3,500 residents to flee their homes, with vast swathes of forest reduced to ash.
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Over in Italy, brave firefighters tackled a wildfire which was quickly heading towards Mount Vesuvius National Park
Credit: AFP
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A fire escalates during the wildfires in Anavyssos, Greece
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial