Albania, Bulgaria ask EU for help to deal with raging wildfires
Forest fires are raging in many areas across the country with the main problems being in the south-western areas of the country.
Damage includes many homes, and thousands of acres have been left charred.
More than 1,000 firefighters and emergency units are involved in trying to tackle the inferno.
Hungarian, Croatian and Italian air assets are assisting in the extinguishing work as Tirana has requested assistance from the European Civil Protection Mechanism.
Bulgaria has to deal with more than 230 fire fronts.
The EU sent four helicopters and two aircraft to help tackle them. 11 regions have been put on red alert due to high temperatures.
Dozens of houses have been burnt to the ground and thousands of acres of forest have been set ablaze.
The most serious problems are located east of the border with Turkey. In Turkey itself, a record temperature of 50,5 degrees Celsius has been measured in the south-eastern city of Silopi.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Local France
15 hours ago
- Local France
August weather, summer apps, and back to school: 6 essential articles for life in France
After much of France recently enjoyed cooler temperatures following an intense heatwave in late June and early July, French forecasters have warned that August could bring hotter, drier weather, along with possible heatwaves. It is still early for month-long predictions, and the various weather models do not yet agree on the intensity of the heat and the day it is set to start – here's what the experts predict. High temperatures and possible heatwaves to return in France in August From translation tools, to weather and sea forecasts, and road planners to restaurant recommendations, these apps and websites will help you make the most of your time in France. 14 Essential websites and apps for summer in France Each year, social media posts poke fun at the long French holiday tradition, often comparing it to a lack of vacation time for workers in the US. And there is a prevailing notion that France completely shuts down during the month of August, and all French people spend an entire month away from work. But how true is it? Factcheck: Do French people really take off the entire month of August? The holiday season is in full swing, but September is heading towards us like a slow-moving freight train – bringing with it la rentrée . Already, to the dismay of school-age children the length and breadth of the country, supermarket shelves are dripping with pens and folders, inks and erasers, reminding them that this long spell of relaxation will eventually end and schools will reopen. So, from the practical – stationery, uniforms, packed lunches – to the emotional – parental involvement and help for struggling kids – and the crucial issue of aid for non-French speakers, here's what to expect if your child is starting school in France for the first time on September 1st. Advertisement How to prepare for your child starting at French school One of the stated aims of the EU's new Entry & Exit System is to catch overstayers, especially those who have over-stayed their 90-day allowance. Here's a look at what changes for those who currently travel visa-free to Europe. How will the EU's new EES passport checks affect the 90-day rule? If you move to France, it can be very expensive to ship all your furniture over from abroad, so you may want to consider buying some of it here. Although Ikea is in France for those of you who like flat-pack furniture and a cheeky cinnamon bun, other homeware and furniture suppliers are available. Here are a few, for a range of budgets. Not just Ikea: where you can buy furniture in France
Euronews
a day ago
- Euronews
Portugal declares high-alert due to hot weather and fire risk
Mainland Portugal will enter a state of alert from midnight on Sunday due to the worsening risk of wildfires as a result of "considerably severe hot weather" with maximum temperatures expected to range from 36 to 44 degrees Celsius. The announcement was made on Saturday by Minister of Internal Administration Maria Lúcia Amaral. It will be in force until 11.59pm on 7 August. "This decision stems from the maintenance of very high temperatures, low humidity levels and the need to adopt preventive and special measures to respond to the risk of fire in a large part of mainland Portugal," explained the minister. During this period, she added, the following exceptional measures will be implemented: "Prohibition of access, movement and permanence within forest spaces, in accordance with municipal forest fire defence plans; prohibition of burning and burning as well as suspension of authorisations that have been issued; prohibition of carrying out work in forest spaces and other rural spaces using machinery; prohibition of the use of fireworks or other pyrotechnic artefacts as well as the suspension of authorisations that have been issued." Amaral said there are some very specific exceptions to these restrictions which can be found on the Portuguese government portal. Episode of severe hot weather in Portugal A mass of hot air from North Africa will be over the Iberian Peninsula from Sunday. It means that Portugal and Spain will experience even higher temperatures that could reach 45 degrees Celsius. Until next Wednesday, a severe episode of hot weather is expected in Portugal. Maximum temperatures of between 36°C and 40°C are expected in most of the country, and between 41°C and 44°C in the interior of the Alentejo, the Tagus Valley and the Douro Valley. On Monday, the maximum temperature is expected to drop in the Algarve, which may also occur along the rest of the coast and extend to Tuesday, the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) warned. However, Porto, Braga, Bragança, Viana do Castelo and Vila Real will be on red alert on Monday. The IPMA indicates that "tropical nights are expected in most of the territory", with minimum temperatures varying between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius from Monday onwards. As a result of the heatwave, all the districts of mainland Portugal, with the exception of Faro, are under an orange warning. The orange warning, which is the second most serious on a scale of three, is issued by the IPMA when there is a meteorological situation of moderate to high risk. The yellow warning, which is less serious, is issued when there is a risk situation for certain activities depending on weather.
Euronews
3 days ago
- Euronews
Portugal evacuates villages as 1,800 firefighters combat wildfires
Portuguese authorities evacuated dozens of residents from two villages Friday as wildfires injured at least 19 people and threatened homes across three districts, with more than 1,800 firefighters deployed nationwide. The blaze in Ponte da Barca remains the most concerning hotspot, with dozens of people being evacuated from their homes in rural areas of Sobredo and Paradela. In Ponte da Barca's district of Viano do Castelo, some 622 firefighters, 214 ground crews and one aerial vehicle were battling the blaze on Friday. Overnight, around 60 people had to leave their homes in Viano do Castelo due to the proximity of the fire that broke out on Saturday in the Peneda-Gerês National Park. According to the mayor of Ponte da Barca, Augusto Marinho, at least 19 people have been injured as a result of the fire, and the blaze remains uncontrolled. In Arouca, in the Aveiro district, a contingent of 441 firefighters and 166 other responders were battling the fire on Friday, after the blaze grew in size the day before and began to approach residences. No evacuations were deemed necessary, however. The fire in Penafiel, in the district of Porto, which broke out on Tuesday also put multiple homes at risk, according to local authorities. Nearly 300 operatives, including 231 firefighters, were on the ground tackling the blaze. Weather to remain 'considerably severe' Portugal faces a "considerably severe hot weather episode" through Wednesday with maximum temperatures reaching 36-44 degrees Celsius, the Portuguese Sea and Atmosphere Institute said Friday. The interior Alentejo, the Tagus valley and the innermost Douro valley will experience temperatures around 41-44 C, with much of mainland Portugal likely experiencing heatwave conditions well above seasonal averages. Forest fires have consumed 10,768 hectares since January through mid-July, according to Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests data released Thursday, triple that of last year's record during the same period. Meteorologists predict extreme weather conditions will persist across Portugal's mainland, particularly in inland regions most vulnerable to wildfire.
