3 days ago
Wildfires kill three across southern Europe, force thousands to evacuate
In Portugal, nearly 1,000 firefighters battled a blaze near the scenic mountain village of Piodao. Crews managed to bring under control a wildfire burning for 11 days, the longest this season, in the mountainous area of Vila Real in the north.
In Albania, soldiers, firefighters, and volunteers, supported by helicopters and an Italian Canadair fire jet, battled to contain separate fronts in the Sopot area between Delvina and Gjirokastra on Thursday after blazes raging for days damaged dozens of homes and charred agricultural land.
Prime minister Edi Rama said on Thursday 137 arsonists have been identified since June and several were being arrested.
Clirim Conku, a 61-year-old farmer in southern Albania, lost vineyards, olive groves and all his livestock in a wildfire, but was relieved he and his faithful dog survived.
'I was using everything to keep the flames out. To fight the smoke a napkin saved my life. I put some water on it but it stayed wet more with sweat,' he said.
Others were bitter that a lifetime of work was gone in minutes.
Restaurant owner Dimitris Daskas, 57, whose business was close to Patras, broke his arm while trying to save his property and was left without water or power as the flames approached.
He told Reuters: 'My wife was calling (emergency services) to say we are on fire. They didn't pick up.'
Reuters
